Alex Barnes, CFP - Savvy Wealth

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Alex Barnes, CFP - Savvy Wealth 👋 I’m Alex, a financial advisor passionate about helping clients reach their goals with tax-smart, personalized strategies. Savvy Wealth Inc.

Outside of work I enjoy golf, basketball, workouts, family time—cheering on my kids at their games and grilling BBQ on weekends. With a background in banking and a passion for personalized financial guidance, I focus on helping pre-retirees build confidence in their financial future. I specialize in income planning and tax-efficient strategies, using advanced tools to create plans tailored to each client’s goals. What I enjoy most is seeing the relief and excitement when milestones are achieved—whether that’s preparing for retirement, funding a dream, or creating a lasting legacy. My goal is simple: help clients keep more of what they earn and invest with purpose, so they can live the life they envision. Outside of work, I stay active on the golf course, in the gym, or on the basketball court. Family time is what I value most—whether I’m cheering on my daughter at soccer, my son on the football field, or gathering around the grill trying new BBQ ideas with friends and family.

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All advisory services are offered through Savvy Advisors, Inc. (“Savvy Advisors”), an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). (“Savvy Wealth”) is a technology company and the parent company of Savvy Advisors. Savvy Wealth and Savvy Advisors are often
collectively referred to as “Savvy”.

Happy Anniversary to my amazing wife!As I look back on the last 16 years, I’m constantly amazed by her strength, intelli...
10/02/2026

Happy Anniversary to my amazing wife!

As I look back on the last 16 years, I’m constantly amazed by her strength, intelligence, humor, and beauty. But looking at the last year and a half in particular, I’m filled with a whole new level of gratitude.

Through every big shift, late night, and major milestone, she has been there. Navigating so much change isn't easy, and the honest truth is that I simply could not have done any of this without her support, patience, and partnership.

Thank you for sticking by me through it all, for cheering me on, and for making this crazy journey so rewarding. (And yes, for still sitting next to me on the sports sidelines every weekend!)

Here’s to 16 years of building a life together, and to everything the future holds for us. Love you! ❤️🥂

Mark your calendar: October 14 is when Social Security announces the official 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).Earl...
10/01/2026

Mark your calendar: October 14 is when Social Security announces the official 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

Early projections put it around 3.6%, which would be the biggest bump in four years. That sounds like good news (and mostly it is), but a bigger COLA can also nudge some retirees into paying more tax on their benefits or affect Medicare premium thresholds.

If you're on Social Security or getting close, this is a good moment to think ahead rather than just wait for the letter to show up in the mail. I'll share the official number as soon as it's out, but if you want to get ahead of how a bigger COLA might affect your own tax picture, let's talk now.

Big news recently for anyone who's ever worried about a parent, client, or friend getting scammed out of their savings.T...
09/28/2026

Big news recently for anyone who's ever worried about a parent, client, or friend getting scammed out of their savings.

The House just passed the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act in a lopsided 408–17 vote. If it clears the Senate, it would let fraud victims deduct their losses again, waive the early-withdrawal penalty if they had to tap retirement funds because of a scam, and give people more time to get back on their feet financially after being defrauded.

With Americans losing an estimated $68 billion to fraud last year, this isn't just a headline, it's a real, practical protection. I'll be watching to see how the Senate vote goes. If you or someone you love has ever been targeted by a scam, this is worth keeping an eye on.

New survey out this week from Schroders: Americans say they need about $5,094 a month to live comfortably in retirement,...
09/26/2026

New survey out this week from Schroders: Americans say they need about $5,094 a month to live comfortably in retirement, and by their own estimate, most people say they won't get there.

That gap between "what I think I need" and "what I'm actually on track to have" is the single biggest thing I see trip people up. The good news: a gap you catch early is a gap you can still close. A gap you discover at 64 is a lot harder to fix.

If you've never actually run the numbers on what your own retirement really costs versus what you're on pace for, that's a conversation worth having sooner rather than later.

Here's a shift I've been noticing in the data lately: more households are pulling money from their investment accounts j...
09/24/2026

Here's a shift I've been noticing in the data lately: more households are pulling money from their investment accounts just to cover everyday spending, not emergencies, not big purchases. Groceries. Bills. The regular stuff.

That's not automatically a red flag. But it matters a lot whether that's happening on purpose, as part of a planned drawdown strategy, or whether it's crept in without a plan behind it. Those are two very different financial pictures, even if the account statement looks the same either way.

If you're not sure which one describes you right now, that's worth figuring out.

Ten years ago I shared this sketch with one line: "This sums up being a financial planner perfectly."A decade later, I s...
09/23/2026

Ten years ago I shared this sketch with one line: "This sums up being a financial planner perfectly."

A decade later, I still love it. But I see more in it now.

When I first posted it, I thought it was mostly about standing in that gap: talking someone out of selling everything in a downturn, chasing a hot tip, cashing out a retirement account early, or making a big decision out of fear or excitement. That's still one of the most valuable things a planner does. One costly mistake can undo years of good habits.

What I've learned since is that avoiding the big mistake isn't everything. It's what makes the rest of the job possible.

When the big mistakes are off the table, the rest of a plan finally has room to work. Saving for college, planning a tax strategy, protecting your family with the right insurance, deciding when to retire, figuring out what your money is actually for: all of that moves more freely and smoothly when it isn't constantly being knocked off course by one reactive decision.

So the advisor in this picture isn't just a wall. It's a foundation. Blocking the big mistake keeps you steady enough to build everything else.

Ten more years in, that's the part I'd add to my original caption.

The Fed just moved on interest rates again, and I've had more than a few people ask me this week what it actually means ...
09/23/2026

The Fed just moved on interest rates again, and I've had more than a few people ask me this week what it actually means for them.

Here's the honest answer: it depends. If you're sitting on a solid cash cushion, rate moves like this can work in your favor. If you're carrying a mortgage, a HELOC, or planning to borrow soon, it's a different conversation. And if you're retired and living off a bond ladder, these moves ripple through your income plan in ways that aren't always obvious.

The headline matters less than what it means for your specific plan. If the rate environment has you wondering whether your allocation still fits where you are today, that's worth a conversation before year-end, not after.

Send me a message if you want to talk it through.

There's a quiet rule change that took effect this year, and it's catching a lot of people off guard, especially if you'r...
09/18/2026

There's a quiet rule change that took effect this year, and it's catching a lot of people off guard, especially if you're making catch-up contributions to your retirement plan.

In the past, those catch-up dollars could go in pre-tax, just like your regular contributions. That's no longer automatic for everyone. Depending on your income, it could mean a very different tax outcome than you're expecting, and most people don't find out until it's already too late to plan around it.

Not sure if this applies to you? Send me a message and I'll walk you through it before the year wraps up.

Friendly nudge: if you filed a tax extension this year, the real deadline, October 15th, is coming up fast.This is also ...
09/12/2026

Friendly nudge: if you filed a tax extension this year, the real deadline, October 15th, is coming up fast.

This is also the first extended filing season under the new tax law changes (OBBBA), so there's more reason than usual to have a second set of eyes on the return before it goes in, especially around deductions and estate/gift planning figures that shifted for 2026.

Don't wait until the second week of October to start pulling things together.

If you (or your tax preparer) have questions about how the new rules apply to your situation, I'm happy to be part of that conversation.

Today we pause to remember September 11, 2001 — the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the extraordinary cour...
09/11/2026

Today we pause to remember September 11, 2001 — the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the extraordinary courage shown by first responders, neighbors, and strangers who ran toward danger to help one another.

Twenty-five years later, the memory hasn't faded. We honor those we lost, we thank those who serve and protect our communities every day, and we hold onto the spirit of unity that carried so many people through that time.

Never forget.

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