Grounded Financial Planning

08/26/2026

On this episode of MythBusters…

Gift Tax!

Any time we're talking to clients about giving money to their children or other family members, one of the first comments we hear is:

“I can only give them $19,000 this year… right?”

or:

“I don’t want them to have to pay taxes on it.”

It’s clear that gift tax is one of the most misunderstood parts of the tax code.

Here’s the simple version:

In 2026, you can give $19,000 per person without even dipping into your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption.

Give someone more than $19,000? That does not mean you owe tax.
It just means you may need to file a gift tax return and report the amount above $19,000 against your lifetime exemption.

In 2026, that lifetime exemption is $15 million per person, potentially $30 million for a married couple.

So, if you’re like 99% of American households, please don't let gift tax keep you from supporting your family.

08/20/2026

Interest rates are elevated, and the effects can reach far beyond the bond market. In the latest Market Commentary, Rick Wedell explains how oil prices, inflation expectations, federal deficits, and Federal Reserve policy may be influencing rates, plus what higher borrowing costs could mean for housing, businesses, and stocks.

Watch this week’s Market Commentary:

Interest rates are back in focus as Treasury yields climb, with the...

08/04/2026

The headlines may suggest markets are struggling, but the broader story is much different.

In this week’s Market Commentary, Rick Wedell discusses why small-cap, value, and international stocks are leading the market, why diversification continues to work, and how healthy market rotation is supporting long-term investors.

He also covers the latest Federal Reserve outlook, Treasury yields, geopolitical developments, and what another strong earnings season could mean for markets.

Watch this week’s Market Commentary:

Markets may look calm on the surface, but underneath they're changi...

07/28/2026

This might be the best piece of writing I've read all year.

If you're nearing or already in retirement, this article by Dan Haylett is a must-read.

- Will

The healthy, active years you have left are shorter than you think

07/23/2026

What happens if you overfund a 529 Plan? 🎓

For years, that was one of the biggest hesitations families had with saving for education.

“What if my child gets a scholarship?”
“What if they don’t go to college?”
“What if we save too much?”

Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act, unused 529 funds may now be rolled into a Roth IRA for the 529 beneficiary, assuming the rules are followed.

A few key rules:

✅ Up to $35,000 lifetime per beneficiary
✅ Annual rollovers are capped at the IRA contribution limit
✅ The 529 must have been open for at least 15 years
✅ The transfer must go directly from the 529 to the Roth IRA
✅ The beneficiary needs sufficient earned income
✅ Contributions made within the previous 5 years, and earnings attributable to those contributions, are ineligible

This does not mean you should blindly overfund a 529.

But it does mean leftover 529 money may be less of a problem than it used to be.

With the right planning, those unused education dollars could become a head start on retirement.

Don’t fear overfunding. Plan for it.

07/14/2026

This article from The Wall Street Journal is a reminder that bad actors claiming to be financial advisors or planners are out there.

They will leverage your fear surrounding the markets, your retirement, or current events to gain your trust while lining their own pockets.

Paul Regan never told the individuals and families who relied on him that he had been permanently barred from the securities industry in 2004, or that he had been fined by state regulators for forging the signature of a client's late wife and stealing six figures from a dementia patient.

The red flags were there. Before working with anyone claiming to be a financial advisor/planner with your best interests in mind, you can do some due diligence yourself:

🔎 SEC's IA Public Disclosure Database: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/

🔎 FINRA's BrokerCheck: https://brokercheck.finra.org/

🔎 CFP Board's Directory: https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/

Credentials and background checks cannot guarantee that someone will always act in your best interest, but they are a good place to start.

For those without a Wall Street Journal subscription, the story was also covered on a recent episode of “The Journal” podcast.

Paul Regan recorded himself ripping off clients to teach others how to do it, too. Those tapes reveal the inner workings of a fraud.

07/13/2026

Last month, Elon Musk's SpaceX completed its long-awaited initial public offering, or "IPO."Maybe you bought in, maybe you didn't, or maybe you're like a lot of people and wondering what the heck an IPO even is.Leading up to the IPO,...

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06/25/2026

Last but not least…

Meet Jamie! 🤝

Before anything else, Jamie is my grandfather and someone I admire more every day. Although he may be retired, there is no Grounded Financial Planning without him.

Jamie has spent his entire life in Jackson. After a distinguished career as Postmaster with the U.S. Postal Service and 16 years of service in the Army National Guard, where he achieved the rank of Major, he transitioned into financial services in 1997.

For more than two decades, Jamie helped families prepare for retirement, make wise decisions, and think carefully about the legacy they wanted to leave. The work we do today at Grounded is built on the foundation he laid: serving people well, doing business the right way, and staying deeply connected to the community.

And when it comes to community, Jamie has always led by example. Over the years, he has served with organizations like the Tennessee Baptist Foundation, Jackson Rotary Club, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, University School of Jackson Endowment Committee, United Way of West Tennessee, and First Baptist Church of Jackson.

These days, Jamie serves as our Founder Emeritus, which mostly means he is retired but still drops by the office every now and then to keep us in line.

Outside of the office, you can usually find him cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers or watching the St. Louis Cardinals.

I’m grateful for the example he has set, the clients he has served, and the opportunity to carry this work forward.

- Will

06/18/2026

Next up:

Meet Griffin Collins 🤝

We introduced Griffin a couple of months ago when he joined us, but given that he’s already halfway through his internship and has made a meaningful contribution to the team, we figured it was worth highlighting him again.

So far, Griffin has participated in 20+ client meetings and played a role in the prep and follow-up for each one. He’s also gotten a glimpse into what it can look like to help run and grow a business through our weekly team meetings, sitting in on marketing calls, and even attending community events.

Most importantly... he’s helped Will improve his golf game ⛳

We’re grateful to have Griffin as part of the team this summer and look forward to seeing all that he continues to accomplish.

06/11/2026

Next up:

Meet Kelsey! ✨

Kelsey helps keep things moving behind the scenes at Grounded Financial Planning. From operations and organization to paperwork and client service details, she plays an important role in making sure our planning process runs smoothly.

Originally from New Orleans and now based in Georgia, Kelsey brings six years of financial planning experience to the team, having previously served as a paraplanner and analyst. She also holds a degree in art from Columbia State, which gives her a unique blend of creativity, problem-solving, and attention to detail.

Outside of the office, she enjoys cooking, gaming, watching movies, and spending time at home with her three cats and dog.