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Woodmont Financial Partners has gained recognition across a range of media platforms, from specialized industry journals to widespread news sources. Below are some highlights of our media coverage:
(June 2025)
Elon Musk Gave His Employees This Unorthodox Wealth-Building Advice — Do Experts Agree?
Paulo Lopes: Only If You’re OK With Risk
“One word: Enron,” said Paulo Lopes, J.D., founder and financial planner at Woodmont Financial Partners. “This was a company where executives were literally on stage encouraging employees to buy more Enron stock in their 401(k), while those same executives were dumping their shares.”
He also cited similar situations at other companies, including WorldCom and Lehman Brothers.
“Yes, employees at Dell became ‘Dellionaires’ in the late ’90s, and folks at Nvidia, Tesla and AMD have seen their stock soar over the last 10 to 15 years,” he said. “But what about Intel? It is on life support and might not turn around.”
He noted that Enron was legitimate fraud, but said it can be hard to know when having a concentrated position in a company is wise or reckless. To manage risk, he advised keeping the investment in your employer to 5% or less of your portfolio.
“If you are okay with risk, can stomach the swings and have enough assets elsewhere, then 10% might be fine,” he said.
Ultimately, Lopes advised that there’s no need to bet everything on the company that already controls when you work and how much you’re paid.
(June 2025)
6 Ways To Plan Your Purchases Around Yo-Yoing Tariffs
Shop Now. If you’re planning to buy a big-ticket item in the coming months, consider whether it might become more expensive due to tariffs, said Paulo Lopes, J.D., founder and financial planner at Woodmont Financial Partners. Buy it now if you think the price will increase due to tariffs.
Personally, he was planning to buy a laptop this year anyway, but purchased it a month or two early to avoid a tariff-imposed price increase.
“And of course, shortly after, the tariffs were paused,” he said. “I was a little annoyed with the yo-yoing, but that’s out of my control.”
What mattered most, he said, was he already had the cash set aside and was going to purchase the laptop anyway.
(March 2025)
The Fed’s interest-rate pause has a silver lining for worried Americans — if they make this move
Consumers are increasingly concerned about their jobs and their access to credit as recession fears loom. “True, high-yield savings and money-market funds aren’t at all-time highs, but earning 4% on your emergency cash is still a great place to be,” said Paulo Lopes, founder of Woodmont Financial Partners. Building cash savings now decreases the chances that a person will sink into deep credit-card debt with double-digit interest rates if they lose a job, he said.
Building up savings should be a priority for people who feel uncertain about their immediate financial future, according to Lopes. To increase their savings, some people may have to put less money toward investments — and also possibly allocate less money toward paying off certain debts — if they are especially tight on cash and are worried about what might happen next.
Which comes first: cash emergency fund or 401(k)? An employer match on 401(k) contributions is “free money,” Lopes said. But if a person lacks an emergency fund, Lopes said it’s a good idea to buckle down and build up the cash savings first.
Once those savings amount to three to six months’ worth of expenses, Lopes said, a 401(k) should be a saver’s main focus.
(February 2025)
6 Ways To Make Yourself Richer With Your Last Paycheck of Spring
Automate Future Pay Raises. “A lot of people don’t realize their 401(k) has an auto-escalation feature that can automatically increase their contributions with each raise,” said Paulo Lopes, JD, founder and financial planner at Woodmont Financial Partners. “It’s a set-it-and-forget-it way to grow your retirement savings without feeling it in your day-to-day budget.”
Even if you’re able to increase your contribution by 1%, he said it can make a big difference over time.
Create an Escape Plan. Even if you love your job, Lopes said this can be a great time to make sure you have financial flexibility.
“I had a professor in undergrad talk about this concept 20 years ago, and it stuck with me, because it’s true,” he said. “Even if you love your job, you never want to be in a position where you have to stay, because you can’t afford to leave.”
Therefore, he recommended using your last paycheck of spring to bulk up your emergency fund or start a side hustle that gives you options.
“Even putting aside a little extra savings now can make a huge difference if things ever change down the road,” he said.
(October 2024)
Your Guide to Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Comparing Medicare Plans. Paulo Lopes, an attorney and financial planner at Woodmont Financial Partners, cautions new Medicare recipients to carefully review their options before selecting a plan.
“If you want freedom and have the financial resources, then you’re likely looking at Original Medicare [plus a supplement],” Lopes says. “You can see any doctor that takes Medicare, which is a big plus for those who travel a lot or want to see a specific doctor when they get sick.”
He also warns buyers to beware: “Original Medicare Part B is full of gaps—think of it like Swiss cheese,” Lopes explains. “While it covers a lot, there are plenty of holes where you’re left paying out of pocket for things like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. That’s why signing up for Medigap, also known as supplement insurance, is so important. It can help fill in many of those holes, so you’re not blindsided by unexpected medical bills.”
Medicare Advantage. At first glance, Medicare Advantage can look good on paper, Lopes says, since it bundles prescriptions, dental, and vision often at a lower price. But, he notes, it’s not a solution for everyone. “You’re stuck with a limited network of doctors, and it puts a private insurance company in charge of approving and denying coverage and procedures,” according to Lopes. “Sadly, I’ve seen more and more reports of people on Medicare Advantage being denied services that should have been approved—claims and procedures that would have been automatically covered under Original Medicare.”
If you can afford it, Original Medicare with a Medigap policy is usually the smarter choice, he says, and really pays off when you get older and start needing more care.
(September 2024)
When To Start Saving for College
Generally, the earlier you can start saving for college, the better.
“Start saving for college as soon as possible, even if you can only set aside a small amount at first,” said Paulo Lopes, an attorney and financial planner with Woodmont Financial Partners.
Starting early means you’ll benefit from the power of compound interest, where you’ll earn interest off your deposits and earnings. As your college savings grow, you’ll earn more per year off the returns.
Don’t Neglect Other Savings Goals. While helping your child save for college may be a priority for you, you shouldn’t cut back on your other personal finance goals, especially retirement savings.
“This might sound harsh, but you cannot take out a loan for your retirement,” Lopes said. “Your kids, however, can take student loans out for college.”
Research 529 Plan Options. Nearly every state offers its own 529 plan. You aren’t necessarily limited to the 529 plan where you live, although some plans do have residency requirements. You could possibly open a 529 plan run by another state that offers better benefits.
“Make sure to look beyond what your state offers, especially if your state offers no tax deductions and the investment options and fees are not competitive,” Lopes said.
(July 2024)
When Does a Parent’s Income, Savings, or Investments Affect a Child’s Ability to Get Student Loans?
Apply as Early as Possible. Paulo Lopes, an attorney and financial planner at Woodmont Financial Partners advises parents to file for financial aid for college as soon as possible. “Some financial aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis,” he says. “So, if you wait to submit the FAFSA, even if your parents’ income is very low, you might miss out on some of the benefits.”
Prioritize Retirement Savings. While this may seem counterintuitive, parents could prioritize saving and investing via retirement accounts as these types of accounts are not considered by FAFSA, Lopes suggests. Your primary residence also doesn’t count, he says, so using assets from taxable accounts to pay down debt like your mortgage will reduce the assets you must report.
It’s Never Too Early to Start Saving for College. If your children are still young, don’t forget about the benefits of a 529 plan, Lopes says, explaining that “Your kids not only benefit from the investments compounding over time, but 529 plans are viewed more favorably on the FAFSA than other types of assets.”
(July 2024)
5 Myths About Debt That Scare Boomers Away From Retiring on Time
Myth: All Debt Is Bad. “Just like you have food that is good for you and bad for you, you can have good debt that is viewed positively and bad debt that will ding your credit score,” said Paulo Lopes, financial planner and co-founder of Woodmont Financial Partners. “If you are lucky enough to have a mortgage with a low interest rate, it can make sense not to make extra payments to pay it off quicker.
“Hold on to that low interest rate and use the cash you would use to make extra payments to pay down debt with higher interest rates or invest the cash instead. With money market and high-yield savings accounts paying 5% or more, you can park your cash and figure out what investments make the most sense for you.”
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info@woodmontfp.comThe media appearances, article quotes, and publications referenced on this website are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement of Woodmont Financial Partners LLC, nor do they imply any recommendation, approval, or guarantee of the firm or its services by the media outlets. Media appearances should not be construed as a testimonial or indication of future performance.
