Jared O'Neal, CFP, AAMS - Financial Advisor

10/16/2026

Hurricane Isaias was bad for the Panhandle and apparently our office was right in the eye of the storm. We had zero damage. Only a parking lot full of leaves, branches and other debris.

However, not everyone was as fortunate. Those to the Northwest of us in the Milton area were hit the hardest. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers and if you're in a position to help, I'm sure they could use it.

So we are fully back in business and ready to tackle the last quarter of 2026. If you need some help with getting those end-of-year deadlines accomplished (Roth Conversions, Tax Loss Harvesting and/or Deductions, etc), let us know.

09/21/2026

Most of us follow topics on social media that align with our interests. I personally follow a few financial influencers and have noticed that many of them are not actually part of the financial services industry.

Are they intelligent and knowledgeable? Absolutely. However, some share projections using very high assumed rates of return without providing important disclosures or context. While their content can be engaging, it doesn't necessarily mean they are licensed or qualified to provide personalized financial advice.

The takeaway: be cautious about what you see online. Not everything presented as financial guidance meets the same standards, regulations, or fiduciary responsibilities that licensed professionals are held to. Always do your research and consider the source before making financial decisions.

The interesting fact:

Based on a study of 1,764 finance-related Instagram
and Facebook reels, TikTok videos, and YouTube shorts, only 2.2% of 1,266 unique "finfluencers" had relevant, demonstrable financial qualifications,
only 11.7% of the videos analyzed contained disclaimers or displayed them on profiles, and 29% of the content was found to be misleading. (Source: Legalaes)

09/11/2026

A quarter century has passed, but the memory remains. Today we honor the victims, survivors, and first responders of September 11th, 2001.

09/08/2026

Are you self-employed and made a lot of money in 2025?

Did you file an extension which is coming due soon?

If this describes you, talk to your CPA about making a SEP IRA contribution to help reduce your taxes.

An example of how this might benefit you: say you're in the 30% bracket and the CPA tells you that you can defer $20,000 in a SEP IRA. This is $6,000 in tax savings (real money), just by shifting $20k from your savings account into your retirement account (SEP IRA).

Depending on your business structure, you might only have one week left to get that contribution in. Talk to your CPA asap!

We can help.

09/04/2026

Today is Jimmy Buffett Day. Every year on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, we remember (and celebrate) the Margarita King Himself.

While some may mourn the legend, I choose to celebrate a life well lived. Jimmy really did live the life that most of us only dream about.

So welcome to the official kickoff of fall: Jimmy Buffett Day, college football, and friends gathering somewhere between Margaritaville and the end zone!

Cheers

09/02/2026

The College Board will begin offering AP Business with Personal Finance in high schools this year, a course covering entrepreneurship, business strategy, and personal finance. Most states require students to
complete a stand-alone personal finance class to graduate. But nearly a dozen still don't.

(Source: CEE)

councilforeconed.org

08/27/2026

In 1978, the percentage of 16- to 19-year-olds
with summer jobs hit a record high of 58% (measured since 1948).

By 2010, however, the number had hit a record low of 29.6%.

Over the last 16 years, teen summer employment has seen a bumpy increase, reaching a high of 37.4% in 2022 and 35.5% this summer.

Source: Pew Research

We love seeing the younger generations out there earning their keep!

08/21/2026

According to My Guide to Retirement.org, 80% of Americans have provided financial support to a loved one in the past year, and 38% are financially supporting both a child and a parent. As a result, 44% of those Americans haven't been able to adequately save for retirement, and three out of four feel stressed about their own personal finances.

Every big financial decision matters to the long term plan. Need help? We're available.

07/30/2026

The annual salary needed to live comfortably for a family of four based on 50% needs, 30% wants, and 20% savings is now above $400k in two US cities: San Francisco ($408k) and San Jose ($403k).

Just three cities need annual incomes below $200k to live comfortably: New Orleans ($198k), Memphis ($194k), and San Antonio ($193k).
(Source: SmartAsset)

Where you live in retirement matters.