Smart Financial Strategies Help Middle-Class Americans Thrive, But Tax Policy Could Change That

For many Americans, financial security isn’t just about earning more, it’s about making smart, strategic decisions with what they already have. David McNeely, a financial strategist with over a decade of experience, helps families do exactly that: plan for the future while navigating an ever-changing economic and political landscape. 

McNeely’s approach goes far beyond investment advice. He works with clients to understand their goals, starting a business, retiring early, sending kids to college, and then builds financial strategies that support those goals. A large part of his planning includes how tax policy affects people’s long-term financial health. 

Part of his job is staying on top of tax changes, and one of the biggest shifts came in 2017 with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Now that those provisions are set to expire, McNeely has been crunching the numbers, and what he’s finding is pretty eye-opening.  

Using his own household as an example, he calculated that his family saved roughly $4,400 in taxes last year compared to what they would have paid under pre-TCJA tax rates. That extra money helped fund a family vacation, something many Americans can relate to. But the implications go far beyond travel. 

Clients he works with have used their tax savings to send children to private school, invest in their businesses, and retire earlier than expected. If the TCJA isn’t extended, many of those goals could be at risk. Even modest tax increases could force families to make tough decisions about their lifestyles and future plans. 

McNeely believes tax policy must be looked at through a real-world lens, not as a political talking point, but as a factor that directly shapes the lives of working Americans. And across the board, whether clients lean left or right, one thing is consistent: “Nobody wants to pay more in taxes than they have to,” he says. 

As the debate over the future of federal tax policy continues, McNeely is adjusting client strategies. Younger clients may continue to benefit from Roth accounts, while older clients could need to shift toward tax-deferred savings. Either way, his goal remains the same helping people protect and grow their wealth, no matter what’s happening in Washington. 

“Smart planning doesn’t stop when laws change,” McNeely says. “It just means we need to be ready to pivot.”