February 2026: Diary of a CFP® Pro — Usher in the Year of the Fire Horse on Feb. 17
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Episode 16: Margaritas with Marguerita — Meet Bonnie Yam of Pension Maxima who will talk about the importance of financial wellness
Why is financial wellness so important? Bonnie knows the answer: "I think it is hard to be happy if you don't have basic financial security." Listen to learn how!
A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro, CEO Blue Ocean Global Wealth — Hello, my friends! I am so excited to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse (2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942 …).
Given my Asian heritage: I am always intrigued to understand the zodiac traditions behind the Chinese horoscopes and the animal of your birth year. This month, the Year of the Snake is coming to an end, and February 17, 2026, marks the first day of the Year of the Horse — the seventh animal in the Chinese horoscope. With it, expect fiery, vibrant energy symbolizing vitality, momentum, and adventure. Experts tell us this year is viewed as a year of optimism and opportunity, with strong public and investor confidence pointing towards economic growth.
In Chinese culture: The Horse is known for its energetic and dynamic nature. It symbolizes vitality, speed, and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess similar traits, such as being hardworking, warm-hearted, and independent.
Rita says: I am so honored to participate in the December 23 Nasdaq Closing Bell ceremony with @graniteshares
The Horse is also associated with success and good fortune. There is a phrase “马到成功” in Chinese, which represents achieving success swiftly and smoothly, just like when a victorious horse arrives at the battlefield. It implies that success can be achieved rapidly and effortlessly. Some people may wear clothing or accessories depicting horses or incorporate horse imagery in their homes for positive energy and fortune. During ancient times, horses were used to transport goods, kings, soldiers, and messages—the legend of the White Horse Temple tells the story of the origins of faith and China’s first Buddhist temple.
People born in the Year of the Horse are independent, enthusiastic, popular, cheerful, and quick to compliment others. said to be outgoing and cheerful and enjoy being part of a crowd, but only when they can take centre stage. Some famous folks with this birth year include Barbara Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Sandra Day O’Connor, George Soros, Vladimir Lenin, Paul McCartney, and Emma Watson.
Here’s to embracing your fire and expanding your financial success!
MARGARITAS WITH MARGUERITA: PODCAST & VIDEO SHOW
MargueritaCheng.tv — Above, find the “Professional Perspective” video by the American College of Financial Services that I was honored to record. In it, you’ll discover why I am certain that building client trust is essential for wealth planners and their clients. Check out more thoughts and ideas on our YouTube channel.
MargueritaChengRadio.com — Listen to this month’s featured podcast “The importance of financial wellness,” with Bonnie Yam, whose professional accreditations include CFA, CFP, CLU, ChFC, RICP, EA, CVA, CEPA. She has extensive experience in investment management, investment fiduciary, and investment education. Bonnie is also a member of ASPPA, NATP, CFA Institute, and NYSSA, and she is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and Enrolled Agent. Before starting her Qualified Plan business , she was a Financial Manager for Time magazine, New York, and a Hedge Fund Research Analyst for Cheetah Investments, Hong Kong. A graduate of Smith College with a BA in Mathematics and Economics, Bonnie received her MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago. Don’t miss our interview on Margaritas with Marguerita!
MARGUERITA IN THE NEWS: 2026
Check out the media interviews and articles that I am quoted in or have penned for publications including Kiplinger, USNews, and CNBC: Marguerita In the News.
Jan. 13, 2026 — US News & World Report: “7 Best Income ETFs to Buy in 2026”
Why does Warren Buffett prefer stocks over an asset like gold? The simple answer: cash flow. With gold, you only earn capital gains when you sell it for a profit. However, you don’t need to sell your stocks to earn an income. You can hold on to your stocks while earning a steady income in the form of dividends for as long as you want. The same thing applies to bonds (and other fixed-income securities) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). If you are one of those prioritizing high and stable cash flows, then you need to add the right income exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, to your portfolio. Income ETFs are funds that invest in income-yielding or cash-flow-generating securities, whether they’re dividends or interest payments.
Why Should You Consider Income ETFs? If you are a retiree or nearing retirement, income from your portfolio can help to finance your retirement budget. Even if you are not near retirement, you may use the monthly or quarterly distributions from income ETFs to meet certain recurring needs and wants (for example, paying your children’s school fees). You may also prioritize regular income so you can reinvest it in the market and profit from the “magic” of compound interest. For stock investors, this approach is known as dividend growth investing. Additionally, income investing can be a way to reduce the risk exposure of your portfolio, especially in bear markets. Investors often view consistent and growing dividend payments as a sign that a company is stable and able to generate profits across various economic cycles. Thus, when the stock market is volatile, investors often reallocate their equity portfolio to defensive stocks, which are known for their dividend consistency. Read more here.
The “Top 100 Money Expert List is live!” Congratulations to Marguerita Cheng!
Money’s Best: Marguerita Cheng is one of the Top Women Financial Planners 2025 — Marguerita Cheng CFP® Pro is one of Money’s choices for the top 30 women planners this year. The editors explain: “All highly qualified, customer-centric financial advisors who serve clients of all backgrounds. Whether you need comprehensive financial planning or niche expertise for a life transition, these financial experts are well-equipped to help you live a richer life. This list of the best financial planners is a collaboration between Money and the Financial Planning Association (FPA), a trade association and membership organization that represents more than 17,000 financial planners across the United States.” Click here to see the other CFPs who made the list.
Investment News named Marguerita Cheng one of its 2025 “Best Certified Financial Planners in the USA | 5-Star Financial Planners,”The news outlet reports “Americans are facing a growing need for guidance and support in their financial affairs and that trend doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon. Not only are people wealthier, but their financial situations are more complex relative to previous generations due to more retirees relying on savings, an increase in the range of products available, and the explosion in alternative investments.
“Consulting giant McKinsey & Company estimates that “by 2034, at current advisor productivity levels, the advisor workforce will decline to the point where the industry faces a shortage of roughly 100,000 advisors.” The sharp demand for CFP services has pushed InvestmentNews’ 5-Star Financial Planners to stand out in a dynamic market by exemplifying excellence, integrity, and dedication in helping their clients. Marguerita was nominated and then benchmarked against others to determine the country’s best.
“While the winners have varying skill sets, a commonality is that the most successful financial planners specialize. They are serving a particular niche and have leveraged it to obtain a competitive edge,” the editors explain.
Blue Ocean Global Wealth headquarters:
9841 Washingtonian Blvd., #200
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301.502.5306 / 888.731.3117 (fax)
mcheng@blueoceanglobalwealth.com
About Marguerita M. Cheng: Rita is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Ocean Global Wealth. She has also been a spokesperson for the AARP Financial Freedom Campaign and a regular columnist for Investopedia & Kiplinger. Previously, she was a Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial and an analyst and editor at Towa Securities in Tokyo, Japan.
Her certifications include: CFP® professional, Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM, Retirement Income Certified Professional® and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. As a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) Ambassador, Marguerita helps educate the public, policy makers, and media about the benefits of competent, ethical financial planning. She serves as a Women’s Initiative (WIN) Advocate and subject matter expert for CFP Board, contributing to the development of examination questions for the CFP® Certification Examination.
Rita volunteers for several organizations including: CFP Board Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC) hearings, she has also served on the Financial Planning Association (FPA) National Board of Directors from 2013-2015 and is a past president of the Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area (FPA NCA).
Her awards include: Ameriprise Financial Presidential Award for Quality of Advice and the prestigious Japanese Monbukagakusho Scholarship. In 2017, she was named the #3 Most Influential Financial Advisor in the Investopedia Top 100, a Woman to Watch by InvestmentNews, and a Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE®) by the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC).
Click here to learn more about Blue Ocean Global Wealth and email Marguerita today!