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Monday, May 11, 2026

Summer in Montana does not ease in slowly. One week, the snow is still melting off the peaks, and the next, the calendar is packed with float trips, rodeos, and family coming to visit. That's exactly how it should be, but summer also...

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Receiving an inheritance is one of those life events that comes with a complicated mix of emotions. Grief, gratitude, maybe a little overwhelm, often all at once. In the middle of processing all of that, you're suddenly faced with big...

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

For Montana real estate investors, from first-time sellers to seasoned property owners, understanding how capital gains taxes work is a fundamental part of an effective tax strategy. With both federal and state tax liabilities to...

Monday, March 2, 2026

Spitfire Financial Group is excited to announce that Robert "Dobie" Beck has joined our team as a Wealth Advisor, bringing over two decades of experience in financial services to our Billings-based practice.Before entering the...

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

In this guide, we’ll explore practical and widely recognized exit strategies for small business owners. We’ll also focus on local relevance—including considerations specific to business owners in Billings and greater Montana...

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Wednesday, December 31, 2025

As a family in Montana, navigating the state tax landscape can feel overwhelming, and if you didn’t like how your taxes played out last year – it’s time to start planning. With evolving tax laws and new benefits being introduced,...

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Running a small business in Billings, MT feels different than anywhere else. From the steady hum of downtown Broadwater to clients across Yellowstone County and beyond, Montana entrepreneurs build value the hard way. The value of...

Monday, December 15, 2025

For many families in Montana, inheritances represent the transfer of property, ranchland, investments, or long-held family businesses across generations. As residents navigate the estate planning and wealth transition process, one...

Friday, December 5, 2025

As Montana families look ahead to retirement and legacy planning, one topic rises to the top sooner than many expect: long-term care. Whether you live in Billings, Red Lodge, Laurel, or anywhere across Yellowstone County, preparing for...

Saturday, November 29, 2025

If you live in Montana—or own property here—you may have questions about how estate and inheritance taxes work. With Big Sky Country’s tax laws often emerging as a selling point for retirees and high net-worth individuals, it’s worth...

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Estate planning is one of the most meaningful steps you can take to protect your financial life and support the people you care about. Yet many Montanans delay creating or updating their plan because the process feels time-consuming or...

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Choosing a financial planner is one of the most important decisions you can make for your financial future. Whether you’re preparing for retirement, managing investments, or planning your estate, the right advisor can help you develop...

Monday, November 10, 2025

As we approach 2026, there are significant changes coming to retirement plans that every Montana investor and employer should be aware of. These changes, stemming primarily from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 and subsequent IRS regulations...

Friday, October 31, 2025

When planning for the future, one of the most important questions people in Billings, MT ask is: Should I create a living trust or a simple will? Both are essential estate planning tools that help you direct how your assets are handled...

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Planning for retirement and planning for an estate are often considered two separate steps in a lifetime financial journey. But for clients here in Billings and across Montana, approaching retirement and estate planning as...

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, but breaking it into manageable steps helps you stay on course. At Spitfire Financial here in Billings, we’ve helped many Montanans map out this journey. Use this local-focused “retirement...

Monday, October 13, 2025

As a financial advisory firm in Billings, MT, Spitfire Financial understands that many business owners here in Montana are deeply rooted in their companies, not just as an income source, but as a legacy. Yet too many small business...

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Late Tuesday night (11 PM our time, midnight on the East Coast), the federal government officially entered a shutdown. This is the 15th full shutdown in U.S. history (21st if you count partial funding gaps). Understandably, you may be...

Monday, September 29, 2025

In today’s fast-evolving financial landscape, having a solid strategy isn’t just nice—it’s essential. For financial advisors in Billings, MT (and across the country), understanding Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) can make the...

Monday, September 15, 2025

As leaves begin to change and the fourth quarter approaches, there's more than just seasonal transitions on the horizon. October brings open enrollment season and the start of year-end tax planning...

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Your legacy is more than the assets you've accumulated. It's the values you've lived by, the relationships you've built, and the positive impact you've had on others. Ready to discuss your legacy planning goals?

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Spitfire Financial Group in Billings today announced that Brian Lethert,  Founder and Wealth Advisor, has been recognized among the 2025 100 Solo Advisors To Watch published by AdvisorHub, a leading publication serving the financial service

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

We started 2025 on a high note, although we acknowledged that “no market environment is ever permanent, and that change is always potentially around the corner.” Well change did come, and with it, volatility, perhaps in part because we...

Thursday, June 5, 2025

As June begins, markets continue to navigate a complex landscape shaped by trade policy shifts, an uncertain economic and earnings outlook, and bond market headwinds. Several key developments in recent weeks may have implications for...

Monday, September 16, 2024

Many of our friends, family and neighbors have been impacted by the Sibanye-Stillwater Mine layoffs. Even under the best of circumstances, making a career move requires some tough decisions, not the least of which is what to do with...

Monday, March 11, 2024

Brian Lethert, CRPC®, Founder and Wealth Advisor at Spitfire Financial Group, has been included in @LPLFinancial's Ascent Club for 2024!

Monday, August 14, 2023

How This U.S. Debt Downgrade is Different from 2011 | Weekly Market Commentary | August 14, 2023 LPL Research explains why the recent Fitch U.S. debt downgrade is very different for markets than the S&P downgrade in 2011. READ MORE...

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

LPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2023: The Path Toward Stability Our 2023 investing outlook started with a theme of returning to normalcy. Considering 2022’smarket volatility and the aftereffects of the pandemic, the idea...

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Through your partnership with us, you now have access to a new online web portal and mobile app, known as Account View, which makes it easy to view and track your investment accounts. This will allow you to stay connected to your...

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

If you have been in our office in the past few months, you undoubtedly have seen the large painting of Spitfire, the namesake of Spitfire Financial Group. Brian Lethert, Founder and Wealth Advisor of Spitfire Financial Group,...

Monday, August 16, 2021

Click below for the latest update regarding the LPL Financial transition.

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

I hope this note finds you and those around you safe and healthy during this unprecedented time. You may have heard recently that LPL Financial Holdings Inc. and Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc. announced the signing of an...

Friday, January 22, 2021

Markets drifted lower last week as uninspired investors digested mixed news on the economic front.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.91% while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slid 1.48%. The Nasdaq Composite index stumbled 1...

Friday, November 6, 2020

After many weeks of telegraphing a long and careful ballot count, this week’s election lived up to that prediction in races for the Senate, the House, and the presidency. While Americans voted Tuesday, Wall Street cast its...

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Stocks slipped as the technology sector remained under pressure and a mid-week announcement by the Federal Reserve failed to inspire investors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.03%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Friday, September 11, 2020

A late week sell-off sent stocks broadly lower as investors took some profits after stocks reached all-time highs earlier in the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.82%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slumped 2.31%...

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Stocks powered to another week of gains as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite set multiple new record highs along the way.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was essentially unchanged while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose by 0...

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the website, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how...