Jesse Hernandez dba: Hernandez Financial

11/02/2026

One change that may surprise charitable givers this year: if you itemize, charitable gifts are now generally deductible only above 0.5% of your adjusted gross income. On the other hand, non-itemizers can now deduct up to $1,000, or $2,000 for joint filers, in cash gifts. That is just one of 5 year-end opportunities covered in my complimentary guide.

Simple moves to consider before end of year.

10/31/2026

We had a little fun with our 'costumes' this year... Taco Bell anyone? 🌮🤣
We hope you have fun too! From all of us at Hernandez Financial we wish you a fun and safe Halloween. 👻

10/30/2026

📚 Friday Focus: Teachers, Is Retirement 2 Years Away? Or maybe it's sooner?

If you're a Washington teacher in TRS Plan 3 and retirement is about 2 years away, now is a great time to take a closer look at your retirement picture.

You’ve spent years helping students prepare for their future. Now it’s time to give yours a little attention! 🍎

Here are three things worth reviewing as you approach retirement:

📌 Your pension: Understand how your PERS Plan 3 pension benefits fit into your retirement income.

📌 Your investments: Review your Plan 3 investment account and consider how it fits with your retirement timeline and goals.

📌 Your bigger picture: Think about Social Security, healthcare costs, other savings, and how much income you may need once your paycheck changes.

Two years can go by quickly! Planning ahead gives you more time to identify gaps, explore your options, and make informed decisions.

At Hernandez Financial, we believe retirement planning starts with understanding where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow. A free consultation gets you started.

Teachers, have you started planning for your retirement years? 🍎

10/30/2026

Q3 was a mixed quarter. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq inched higher while the Dow slipped. Mixed quarters rarely make headlines, but they're a good moment to check in with your plan instead of your gut. Here's my five-minute recap of what happened and what I'm watching next.

Here's what savvy investors took away from Q3

10/26/2026

Tax filing happens next spring. But many tax decisions have to happen before December 31 to count for this year. Retirement contributions, charitable gifts, Roth conversions, harvesting gains or losses. Once the calendar flips, some of those windows close. My complimentary guide walks through 5 year-end moves to review while there is still time.

See what the latest tax law updates may mean for you.

10/23/2026

📘 Friday Focus with Jesse | Financial Planning Month

October is Financial Planning Month, making it a great time to learn more about the tools that can play a role in preparing for retirement!

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA — What’s the Difference?

Both are designed to help you save for retirement, but they handle taxes differently.

💡 Traditional IRA: Contributions may be tax-deductible, depending on your circumstances. Withdrawals are generally taxed as ordinary income.

💡 Roth IRA: Contributions are made with after-tax dollars. Qualified withdrawals are tax-free.

So, which one makes sense for you? That depends on factors such as your income, tax situation, and long-term retirement goals.

Financial planning is about looking at the bigger picture and understanding how your decisions today may fit into your plans for tomorrow.

This October, take a little time to learn about your options and consider whether your retirement strategy still aligns with your goals.
— Jesse Hernandez, ChFC

10/23/2026

🛡️ **Medicare Tip: Protect Yourself from Fraud & Identity Theft!**

Your Medicare number is personal information! Here are a few ways to help protect yourself. ❤️

✅ **Guard your Medicare card.** Only share your Medicare number with trusted healthcare providers and authorized representatives.

✅ **Check your statements.** If you have Original Medicare, review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or log in to **Medicare.gov** to check your claims. Have a Medicare Advantage plan? Review the statements from your plan.

🔎 **Look for:** Doctor visits you didn't have, medical equipment you didn't receive, or services you don't recognize.

✅ **Beware of unexpected calls.** Don't share personal information with someone who contacts you unexpectedly by phone, email, or in person.

📞 **Suspect fraud?** Contact your healthcare provider first. If you're still concerned, call **1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)**. You can also call the Senior Medicare Patrol at **1-877-808-2468** for assistance.

💡 **Remember:** Medicare plans and agents don't need your personal information just to give you a quote. Be cautious of anyone pressuring you to share information or enroll unexpectedly.

📣 Share this reminder with a friend or family member!

*Source: Medicare & You Handbook*

10/17/2026

Today we celebrate The Boss, el Jefe, the Big Cheese, Our Fearless Leader and Mentor. He didn't even see it coming - we love that we were able to surprise him. Thanks for everything Boss!

10/10/2026

Friday Focus – Financial Planning

What is a Roth IRA? 🤔

A Roth IRA is a retirement savings account funded with money you’ve already paid taxes on. The benefit? Your investments can grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, too.

So why might someone consider one?

✅ Tax-free retirement income: Qualified withdrawals can provide another source of income in retirement without additional federal income tax.

✅ More flexibility: Roth IRAs generally don’t require you to take money out during your lifetime.

✅ Planning for the future: Having different types of retirement accounts can give you more options when deciding where your retirement income will come from.

✅ Can you automate a contribution to a Roth IRA? Yes.

✅ Can you make changes to the amount you contribute? Also, yes.

But a Roth IRA isn't the right fit for everyone. Income limits, eligibility rules, taxes today versus taxes in retirement, and your overall financial goals all matter.

That’s where financial planning comes in. I look at how your retirement accounts fit together and help you understand the options available for your situation. 🫶

10/09/2026

🏡 Do you have an estate plan? And if you do, when was the last time you looked at it?

It’s easy to put estate planning on the “I’ll get to that later” list—or assume everything is covered once the paperwork is signed, but life happens and changes may need to be made.

Our newest article, “Six Estate Planning Assumptions Worth a Second Look,” takes a look at some common assumptions about wills, beneficiaries, probate, family decisions, and estate taxes.


👉 Read the full article here ⬇️

It's easy to set estate planning aside once you've done a version of it. You sign the paperwork. You name a beneficiary. You mentally close the file.The only thing is, the file keeps changing. Accounts get opened. Families grow. Laws shift. And in the space between signing and revisiting, a handful....