Kyle Rash

05/22/2026

Money is being made off of the use of confusing terms and the investor's fear of seeming uneducated - and that's a problem! For example, you may assume a fee-only advisor is the same as a fee-based advisor, but they're actually different in a pretty significant way.

I'm on a mission to demystify industry jargon and break it down for the average investor. Here is exactly how your financial advisor is making money, and whether that method is in your best interest:

https://www.planwithchampion.com/post/fee-based-vs-fee-only-financial-planning-what-s-the-difference

Do you often find yourself questioning the “word-salad” in financial services? I’ve spent a lot of time in the academic field of finance. I quickly realized that I had to break down the industry jargon for the average investor (at that time I was one!) so that I would be better informed in my ...

05/20/2026

Investment management is important—but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

A portfolio doesn’t build a life. A comprehensive plan does. And the way you pay for that plan should make sense.

If this resonates with you, there’s a good chance we see financial planning and investment management the same way—and you’ll feel right at home with Champion Financial Planning.

DM me to learn more about how I can help you prepare your finances for the life you want.

05/18/2026

Assets Under Management (AUM) fees typically average around 1.0%–1.5% annually. On the surface, it feels simple (as noted in a common TV ad: “We make money when you make money”):

Seems simple, right?

But underneath that simplicity is a deeper question:
What exactly are you paying for—and how does the value scale with your wealth?

Managing a $250,000 portfolio versus a $2.5 million portfolio doesn’t typically require 10x the effort. Yet under an AUM model, the cost to the client may increase by that magnitude.

When fees are tied directly to portfolio value:
❌ Compensation increases regardless of additional work performed
❌ Incentives can become misaligned with client outcomes
❌ Clients may overpay simply due to market appreciation
❌ Risk can be elevated beyond the client’s need or tolerance
❌ Investment selections might be made based on trailing commissions offered to the advisor

These are high-value services—but importantly, they are not inherently tied to portfolio size. They should be part of the plan regardless of portfolio size!

This is why my company is structured to provide FEE-ONLY financial advice and wealth management services based on an hourly rate applied to the actual work performed, because I believe financial advice should be
✅ Transparent
✅ Aligned with the services provided
✅ And based on complexity, not your balance.

That's how you .

05/15/2026

My number one goal at Champion Financial Planning is to educate others to make informed decisions about their finances.

You shouldn't just blindly trust your future to someone else. You should KNOW your plan. Be involved in it!

When I take on a new financial planning client, whether we include asset management or not, I know the relationship can't work if they don't have trust and confidence in me. That trust is built through transparency—making sure you understand exactly what is happening with your finances and are involved in the decision-making.

Because if you don't know the plan, you can't see where it's going.

05/13/2026

With the high level of uncertainty in the world, should you take your RMD now?

While I cannot predict what will happen in the short term (Unfortunately, I don't have a crystal ball), I DO know that historically, the US Stock Market trends upward about 70% of the time.

The answer won't be the same for everyone. It depends on how you feel (risk tolerance) and what your situation requires:
- How do you feel about having to take distributions during a down-market cycle, knowing that the market will likely rebound later?
- What if you need income immediately?
- What's the demand on your RMD account? Does your financial plan require a set level of income each year?

One balanced approach to consider is taking part of the distribution now and the rest later in the year to satisfy the RMD. That way, you're not trying to perfectly time the market and you're spreading the risk.

At the end of the day, this isn't about predicting the market—it's about making the best decision for your plan and your peace of mind. Let's make sure what we're doing aligns with both.

05/11/2026

Your wealth isn't in your assets. It's in the family that they support.

I became a financial advisor due to a terrible experience with mine. I lost trust in him. I lost trust that his firm would handle my assets with a fiduciary mindset guided by what was best for my family. So I learned to do it myself. To do what he should have been doing: guiding me to informed decisions.

I went ALL-IN and ended up with a graduate degree! I created my own unique model of financial planning and now, I help others who are looking for financial planning and wealth management services—from a fiduciary that gets it.

From someone who knows what it means to have a family you love and desire to enjoy a life surrounded by them throughout retirement.

I know that achieving success requires a plan. A plan to manage and grow assets in a way that ensures a secure future for my family as well as one that will allow me the flexibility to ensure a better tomorrow for my children and future grandchildren.

When you're ready to extend that trust and write your plan, let's have a conversation. No agendas. No worries. Just you and me taking that first step of trust.

Reach out here or directly to me ( Rash) and let's plan for your future!

05/08/2026

If left alone, everything drifts toward chaos.

Want proof? Your garage doesn’t organize itself.

And your finances? They don’t magically become clearer with time. They require both diligence and discipline.

Without structure, disorder wins. Results become fluid, nonlinear, and unpredictable because life doesn’t stand still.

Chaos often seems to be just around the corner due to:
External forces—political shifts, economic cycles, and market volatility introduce uncertainty.
Internal changes—births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and career transitions reshape priorities in an instant.

If you fail to plan, you’re really planning to fail.

A comprehensive financial plan changes everything, giving you a framework by:
✅ Organizing what you have
✅ Defining where you’re going by establishing specific goals
✅ And creating a system to track progress and make adjustments with purpose.

The goal isn’t to eliminate uncertainty. That’s impossible.

The goal is to build a structure strong enough to absorb it.

Because in a world that naturally trends toward chaos, clarity doesn’t happen by accident—it’s designed and maintained.

05/06/2026

If you're around five years out from retirement, it's time to start planning.

That means following your financial plan for controlling expenses and managing debt, but it also means establishing or confirming the goals for your retirement.

When creating goals for yourself and your partner, use the SMART Method. Goals should be...
🎯 SPECIFIC: Is the goal clear, concise, and definable?
📏 MEASURABLE: Can you measure progress toward the goal?
🏆 ACHIEVABLE: Is the goal reasonably feasible and attainable?
👍 RELEVANT: Is this goal aligned with the broader objectives of your future?
⌛ TIME-BOUND: Do you have a deadline for the goal?

These goals may shift over time or after major life events (marriage, divorce, births, deaths, disabilities, etc.), but writing them down will give you a starting point to validate or update annually.

For a more detailed guide to building your retirement timeline, read here:
https://www.planwithchampion.com/post/preparing-for-retirement-building-a-timeline

Retirement is more than a transition—it’s a complete lifestyle shift from the “norm” of a 30-40 year career to a new unknown. This transformation affects both partners in meaningful and often differing ways. The most successful retirements don’t happen by accident; they’re built intentio...

05/04/2026

Not everything that looks appealing is actually valuable.

On a recent drive, my daughter pointed out some pretty flowers growing in the highway median. They were bright and stood out from the grass, asphalt, and rocks around them.

Eye-catching...only they weren’t flowers. They were weeds.

My daughter saw the outward beauty, while I recognized the invasiveness. They were out of place. They didn’t belong.

It got me thinking about how often that happens in our financial lives. Some “opportunities” are dressed up with great marketing or a compelling story. They look impressive on the surface—but underneath, they may be nothing more than weeds.

Weeds don’t have a place in a long-term plan. You want stability, not invasive beauty devoid of long-term benefit.

Stability doesn’t often sparkle, but it sure wears well!

That’s where a comprehensive financial plan comes in. It’s the Miracle-Grow for your financial landscape, giving you:
● A clear design for your landscape
● A schedule for maintenance and review
● A process for pulling what doesn’t belong
● And a strategy for planting what does

Over time, the plan and your discipline are what create a yard you actually want—one that’s intentional, resilient, and aligned with your goals.

Ultimately, your financial plan isn’t about chasing what looks good in the moment...
It’s about consistently cultivating something meaningful, durable, and aligned with your goals.

03/20/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/championfp_when-rmds-meet-volatility-protecting-your-ugcPost-7440843723028049920-NQoq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADL6HrsBw8YRw1tkV1CtrCKN75Na1z2jzTE

When RMDs Meet Volatility: Protecting Your Long-Term Plan

02/05/2024

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/tLtOcBP

Don't take the shortcut. Stick with your established financial plan for long-term success!

We’ve all heard ‘slow and steady wins the race’ but that advice is difficult to follow in many aspects of life. Shortcuts are often taken in the hope of reaching the goal just a little bit faster. The success of one shortcut leads us to believe others will be as successful. We’re prone to do...