April
– NEWSLETTER –
2026
Something Personal
The Tadman’s Discover Another Secluded Island Paradise
This month, the Tadman family had the opportunity to embark on a trip we’ll remember for years to come. For the first time, our two oldest daughters, Cali and Bryley, stayed back home, busy with their full schedules of sports, work, and time with friends.
That meant this adventure looked a little different—just the four of us setting out together. With Lyla and Judah in tow, we embraced a new kind of getaway as we explored North and Middle Caicos, part of the quieter, more secluded “out islands” of Turks and Caicos.
For those that know our travel history, we often go to and find these small untouched places to enjoy, and this was one of the better experiences of all our trips.
From the moment we arrived, it felt like we had stepped into a completely different world. Each day was spent exploring a new beach, and almost every time, we found ourselves completely alone—miles of white sand and turquoise water with not another person in sight. We watched sea turtles glide just feet from the shore, spotted dolphins swimming not far off the coast, and had unforgettable moments like Lyla locking eyes with a curious stingray in the shallows. The kids spent hours exploring the water, building sandcastles, and turning the beach into our own playing field for daily baseball and football matchups—Marty and Lyla versus Nicky and Judah in some pretty competitive showdowns. For 4-8 hours each day, most of our time was just spent sitting or lying on the sand, reading, talking, or just staring to the endless ocean and down the miles of untouched coastline. Pure relaxation and the very definition of peaceful.
Most places we went were such solitude-filled places and beauty that the waves seemed to tiptoe to not disturb us and even the wind felt guilty for making noise. It was the kind of peaceful environment that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it—completely unplugged, surrounded by nothing but nature and time together as a family.
Life on the island moves at a different pace, and having done this a number of time, we have learned to fully lean into it. We found the island’s two grocery stores and quickly learned to plan around the weekly supply boat that brings in essentials like fresh milk. Of course we have learned to pack a luggage bag of food and snacks knowing most of the every day items we (and mainly the kids) eat aren’t available. There are only a handful of restaurants—three in total—but each one delivered incredible meals. Surprisingly, the BBQ wings and ribs ended up being a highlight and some of the best we’ve ever had. Our home for the week made the experience even more special, with a back patio that opened directly onto the beach, just steps from the ocean.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was the people we met along the way. The local community welcomed us warmly, even inviting Lyla and Judah to join an island-wide kids gathering and carnival celebration. With about 25 kids on the island, it turned into a night of new friendships and memories that they’ll never forget.
Getting there—and back—isn’t exactly simple. It took two days to arrive, including an overnight stay in Charlotte, and the journey home included multiple flights, a ferry, a car ride, delays, cancellations, and even luggage arriving a day later. But experiences like this aren’t about convenience—they’re about something deeper. The Tadman family found another special place that offers true escape, quiet, and connection. And for us, it was absolutely worth it.
What’s happening at Tadman Financial?
A New Layer of Financial Planning
We have recently begun introducing a new element into our financial planning process—travel and credit card strategy integration. This is something we are rolling out gradually within our review meetings, and several clients have already started working through it with us. For those who have, we hope you are seeing both the value and the potential this approach can bring.
Over time, we will continue to incorporate these strategies into meetings for clients who have an interest in optimizing this area of their financial life. While traditional planning focuses on investments, taxes, and long-term goals, we believe there are meaningful opportunities within everyday spending that often go overlooked. This addition is designed to help capture those opportunities in a structured and intentional way.
We have become increasingly convinced that when used effectively, credit card points and travel strategies can significantly enhance how clients utilize their existing travel budgets. Rather than simply spending for trips, this approach allows clients to extract more value—often substantially more—from the same dollars they are already planning to use.
Our goal is to continue expanding this offering in a thoughtful and practical way. As always, participation is entirely optional, but for those interested, we believe this represents a unique and valuable extension of the comprehensive planning experience we aim to provide.
Upcoming Event
Credit Card Travel Seminar
Our upcoming Credit Card Travel Seminar on Saturday, April 11 is already at full capacity, and we’ve begun building a waitlist. If enough additional interest develops, we plan to host a second session in the future so more clients can participate.
For those who know Marty, this topic will come as no surprise. He’s long been a bit of a points enthusiast, and over the years many clients have reached out with questions around credit card strategies, maximizing rewards, and planning more efficient travel. As a result, we’re now formalizing this as part of our broader planning approach and sharing it in a more structured way through events like this.
During the seminar, we’ll walk through how to effectively build and redeem credit card points for travel, along with practical strategies that can be applied immediately. Topics include structuring credit cards strategically, turning everyday spending into flights, hotels, and cash back, gifting points for family travel, understanding trip insurance considerations, utilizing helpful travel apps, building vacation itineraries with real-world examples, and even navigating items like international driver’s licenses.
For many families, travel represents one of the largest discretionary expenses each year. When approached thoughtfully, credit card points can significantly enhance that spending and create meaningful additional value. Our goal is to help clients incorporate these strategies intentionally, as part of a well-rounded financial plan.
Travel Tips
Did you know you can earn credit card points paying your mortgage?
A new program now allows homeowners to earn rewards points by paying their mortgage, expanding beyond the previous rent-only option.
Financial Tips
Starting a Roth IRA for a Teen
Want to give your child or grandchild a financial head start? A Roth IRA might be a choice to consider. Read on to learn more about how doing this may benefit both of you.
Weekly Market Commentary
Week in Review
It was a short and relatively light week for economic data, but the releases still provided a useful snapshot of the economy. The main focus was the March flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data, where S&P Global Flash U.S. Manufacturing PMI rose to 52.4 from 51.6, coming in above consensus of 51.3.