Blog

Five Money Myths to Ditch

Timothy Piehl

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

You may have been told “carbs are bad for you” or “opposites attract,” but sometimes, these pieces of advice do not hold up in real life. Athletes need carbohydrates for energy, and shared beliefs are important to many couples. Whether...

People in their 20s and 30s are busy with all kinds of major life changes: graduating from college, starting their careers, getting married, having children, buying their first home — the list goes on! In this season of life, you may...

Throughout most of 2025, Wall Street has been a rollercoaster ride that few retirees are enjoying. Following the announcement of new tariffs on several global trade partners, the S&P 500 market value dropped $2.4 trillion in one day. A...

Picture this: You’re five years into retirement, having drinks with your friends on a sunny patio, and everyone is sharing how worried they are about paying for an upcoming cruise, funding their children’s education or making ends meet...

Would you get in a car for a road trip without knowing where you were going? A surprise destination might sound fun, but what if you didn’t know how much gas you had? And you didn’t have a map, either. It may sound crazy, but this is...

When you started your career, you probably signed up for the traditional 401(k) plan your company offered, set your contributions at about 3% — just enough to get the company match — and you’ve never looked back. Or perhaps you just...

Whether you hate setting New Year's resolutions or it’s part of your yearly routine, the new year is a fantastic time to reassess your finances. If you fall into the category of people hoping to save more and pay off debt next year,...

Preparing Your Wallet for 2025

Timothy Piehl

Thursday, December 5, 2024

As we head into a new year, I always recommend clients take the time to look at their finances and make adjustments where needed. In this blog, I answer the most common questions I receive this time of year and give my advice as we...

November is National Entrepreneurship Month, a time to celebrate the creators, business owners and innovators who play an important role in our economy. As a third-generation entrepreneur myself, and having worked with many...

Are you ready for retirement? If you’re in your 50s or 60s, you’ve probably had a friend or family member ask this question, but it can be tough to answer. Similar to the feelings a skydiver has before they leap out of a plane, there...

There seems to be a national holiday for just about anything these days — September brings National Cherry Popover Day, Make a Hat Day and much to our excitement, National 401(k) Day! While you may not be putting up balloons and...

The idea of creating a will might have crossed your mind a time or two, but few people actually follow through on the idea: Only 32% of Americans currently have one! Whether it’s because they think they don’t have enough money to...

Running out of money is a major fear for retirees — so much so that two-thirds of adults are more scared of outliving their money than dying. It’s one of the most common concerns we hear when a client starts working with us. You may...

When it comes to financial planning, there are a lot of unknowns. Perhaps that’s why almost two-thirds of older adults have never met with a financial advisor to create a plan. It’s common to feel paralyzed by indecision, but...

We’ve heard it all. You’re such a small firm! Where even is Hutchinson? But my old financial advisor wanted me to do x, y, z… It's no surprise that people have questions when it comes to choosing a financial advisor; trusting someone...

Most workers are counting down the days to retirement, but some are not as eager to walk away from their careers. Maybe you are especially passionate about your job or you love seeing your coworkers every day—whatever the reason, it’s...

Over 4 million Americans will turn 65 this year, entering into prime retirement age. Today’s retirees are some of the first to start their golden years with a 401(k) plan as their primary savings tool, as opposed to a pension...

Hundreds of couples have walked through our doors seeking financial advice, giving us a front-row seat to how people navigate their finances as a team. It’s exciting to watch couples pursue financial milestones together, but the...

Wall Street was a zoo throughout 2023, with enough bear markets and bull runs to make any investor sweat. The market took a dive in the spring after several bank collapses made savers uneasy. By July, the Federal Reserve had raised...

December tends to be a blur filled with holiday parties, sweet treats and family time. But before the New Year comes, it’s important to take a break from the festivities and review your finances. It may not sound like the most...

Meet Megan Piehl: The Maestro of Organization

Megan Piehl

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Have you ever met someone who loves a label printer? I know it might sound a little crazy, but turning chaos into order is one of my favorite things. In my role as operations assistant at Zephyrus Financial Services, I take charge of...

By Chad Piehl   When Jo and I retired, we were excited to enter a new phase of life — one filled with more free time and opportunities to pursue our passions. While most of my retirement has been wonderful, some parts have...

Back-to-school season is a blur for most parents — from shopping for supplies and new clothes to getting fresh haircuts for picture day. The list goes on! But how is all that spending made possible? By carefully budgeting and...

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in recent years, and while some people are excited about where AI is headed, others are worried we’re one step away from “I, Robot.” No matter where you fall on...

 The Fourth of July is a favorite holiday for many Minnesotans eager to enjoy a day on the lake or at the cabin with friends and family. With plenty of food and fireworks, we’ll celebrate America’s independence, but...

Many women face a lethal combo when it comes to saving for the future: On average, they have about $50,000 less in their 401(k) account compared to men and they live about six years longer. It’s no surprise that many women are...

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing has come into the limelight since President Biden used his first veto to allow employers to offer ESG investments in their 401(k) plans. Socially-conscious investing has grown in...

We’ve all heard different rules of thumb when saving for retirement. “You need $1 million saved for retirement.”  “By the time you’re 30, you should have one year of your annual salary saved...

It’s not the most glamorous topic, but due diligence is a crucial part of financial planning. Many people associate it with mergers, acquisitions and real estate transactions, but not with their investment decisions. So, what is...

Meet the Advisor: Amanda Schueler

Amanda Schueler

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

In December of 2013, the owner of Zephyrus Financial Services and my longtime friend, Tim Piehl, hired me as a sales assistant. Throughout the years, I discovered I had a unique skill set perfect for working with clients and helping...

In mid-December, we packed up and headed to our new office space in Hutchinson, MN! Our latest headquarters is a far cry from the old Hardee’s that it used to be. As we transition into our next space, we want to look back at the...

Throughout the year, we’ve watched news anchors report on the latest inflation numbers, interest rate hikes and stock market ups and downs. All these stories impact our pocketbooks. Not only is it important to understand...

Broker-dealers handle your money and can impact your financial future. We are amazed how often people do not ask and do not care about who is dealing with their money. At Zephyrus Financial Services, we believe it’s important to...

Meet the Owner: Tim Piehl

Timothy Piehl

Thursday, October 6, 2022

On April 15, 2013 (yes, Tax Day), I started at Zephyrus Financial Services. After spending the first part of my career in the banking industry, I was excited to join my father’s business, which was then called PHB Financial...

2022 has brought several financial concepts and words to the surface! Some of these concepts we haven’t seen in more than 50 years, but they are making headlines and could potentially impact our financial future. At Zephyrus...

At Zephyrus Financial Services, it’s exciting to help people in or near retirement plan for their financial future, and ultimately, their financial freedom. Over the years, we’ve had plenty of conversations with people and...

One of the most popular questions we get is, “how much should I save in my 401(k)?” Making decisions in your 401k can feel daunting, but with a little guidance, you can take control of one of the most important tools...

If 2022 was a round of golf, we would officially be on the back nine. The first half of the year has been defined by record inflation, interest rate increases and stock market volatility, and we still have six months to go!...

A savings account is a great start, and can be used for a multitude of things, whether it be saving for a house, or maybe a boat, golf cart, or any other sort of toy. However, a savings account can also hold you back from reaching your...

Retirement planning isn’t only for those in their 50s and 60s - it’s for everyone! Depending on what stage of life you’re at, there are key things to consider when planning for your future. We dive into four life...

            As a young adult, financial anxiety should just be expected. Whether you are inching towards college graduation, freshly graduated, or even in your first or second...

The holiday season is a time when many of us are visiting with loved ones. Gathering with our family provides us with an opportunity to catch up on the events in our lives, but we would suggest it’s also a time to bring up estate...

This time of year, we are especially focused on gratitude. We wanted to take the time to share with you what we’re grateful for. Working with a financial advisor requires you to be vulnerable about all the personal aspects of...

People often mix up the definitions of investing and gambling. For example, my nine-year-old son likes to tell me the stock market is gambling. On the other hand, my 12-year-old daughter embraces the idea of investing. To be fair, some...

You’ve worked for years building your business, hiring employees, maintaining relationships with customers and running the company. But now you’re considering stepping away from the business and selling. When transitioning...

It is easy to get bogged down by the news when we have access to updates 24 hours a day. In fact, a recent study found about two-thirds of Americans are experiencing news fatigue. Some days it feels like we can’t turn on the TV...

Knowledge and experience are not the only factors you need to be successful. A Harvard study found 85% of professional success comes from people skills. We believe this wholeheartedly. Building personal relationships with our clients...

My dream as a child was to become a secret agent or a stockbroker like my dad. I learned early on I was more like my dad than the characters from the 1984 movie “Cloak and Dagger.” Our minds work in similar ways; we have...

Health care, traveling and new hobbies are just some of the retirement expenses you need to plan for. But what are you missing? It’s important to get as specific as possible with your goals to create a realistic plan for how much...

Buying a home is a big financial commitment! For many people, a house is the biggest purchase of their life. We often get asked a lot of questions surrounding the home-buying process. Here are five important financial questions to...

Amanda's Passion for Education: 3 Important Money Lessons

Amanda Schueler

Monday, March 1, 2021

This month, Amanda shares why she’s passionate about education and what you can expect when you work with her. My passion for education began in elementary school. I was surrounded by teachers who fueled my interest in teaching,...

It might be difficult to have an optimistic attitude about a post-pandemic future when there’s so much uncertainty. It can be hard to keep a positive viewpoint during tough times; our brains are naturally programmed to remember...

As we enter 2021, you may be thinking about setting New Year’s resolutions. We hope you take the time to think about ways to improve your finances. Here are four resolutions to help you reach financial success. Make a Plan for...

One of the most beneficial things a young adult can do is learn how to manage their money. Young adults prioritize careers, buying a home and starting a family, but saving for their future can feel overwhelming. At Zephyrus Financial...

For many, the coronavirus has changed the way they manage their finances. Some people arespending less, saving more and realizing they need a plan for retirement. The pandemic hasshown us we can’t predict the future, but we can...

Elections can certainly impact our financial lives. In the last four years, lawmakers have passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the SECURE Act and the CARES Act. These laws impact our income taxes, the way we invest for retirement, leave...

In a time of so much uncertainty, people are keeping a close eye on their wallets and looking to the people they trust with their money for advice and guidance. Earlier this summer, the Securities and Exchange Commission enacted a new...

The old saying goes, we can be certain about two things in life: taxes and death. While most of us would like to ignore taxes altogether, they are inevitable. What many people don’t realize is that even though the paycheck stops...

The U.S. economy entered a recession in February, according to the National Bureau of Economy Research. A recession is defined as a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy lasting more than a few months. The...

Due to coronavirus fears, many of us are feeling stressed, overwhelmed and anxious. Besides health concerns, many of us are worried about our financial future. We believe the key to a successful financial future hinges on creating a...

The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside down. We have been helping our clients navigate challenging situations since Zephyrus Financial Services was founded. During this time, our core values have not shifted. Our business...

No one could have predicted what we’re experiencing so far in 2020. Our lives have been disrupted by something none of us saw coming. Not only is our physical, mental and emotional health being impacted, so is our financial...

As the Coronavirus spreads around the globe, worry is mounting in the U.S. Investors are concerned about the impact on an already fragile global economy. In the final week of February, stocks posted their biggest losses since the...

Valentine’s Day is a time when many of us are thinking about romance, but another key component of a healthy relationship is financial compatibility. While it’s important to be on the same page financially throughout your...

Zephyrus Financial Services: We are Intentionally Different From the outside looking in, it might seem like all financial firms are the same. If you’re comparing advisors, we are going to look different, and that is intentional....