Walkner Condon Financial Advisors

10/08/2026

Non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) could be one of the most valuable benefits you're not using — and one of the easiest to get wrong.

If you're an executive or high earner at a public company, we break down:

✅ How NQDC differs from a 401(k) — and why it's so inflexible once you elect
✅ Choosing your payout timeline strategically
✅ The biggest risk: what happens to your money if your company goes under
✅ What happens to your NQDC if you leave your job
✅ Why you can't wait for HR to bring this up

Open enrollment season is coming — this one's worth watching before you make your elections.

📺 Watch now: https://youtu.be/XKgHF9y2jzA

Non-qualified deferred compensation could be one of the most valuab...

10/06/2026

Can AI replace your financial advisor? Clint & Nate break down where AI genuinely helps — and where it still falls short.

✅ How Walkner Condon is already using AI
✅ Comparing the AI boom to the early internet era (Netscape to pets.com, anyone?)
✅ Why AI won't replace human oversight in portfolio management
✅ Preparing for the next 2008-style market event
✅ Why human connection still wins when it matters most

A grounded, real-world take on where technology helps — and where a real advisor still matters.

📺 Watch now: https://youtu.be/9ieddulfSVQ

Can AI replace your financial advisor? Clint Walkner and Nate Condo...

10/02/2026

The Wisconsin Retirement System is one of the best-funded pensions in the country — but most participants don't fully understand how to maximize it.

Nate, Andrew & Clint break down everything WRS participants need to know:

✅ How the pension benefit is actually calculated
✅ Core Fund vs. Variable Fund — the 60/40 vs. 100% stock decision
✅ The one-time switch back to Core as retirement approaches
✅ Why "I have WRS, I don't need to save anything else" is a risky assumption
✅ Is leaving for a private sector job (and that 15% raise) actually worth it?

If you're a Wisconsin state employee, teacher, or public sector worker, this one's for you.

📺 Watch now: https://youtu.be/m6DKRopItNI

The Wisconsin Retirement System is one of the best-funded public pe...

09/29/2026

📋 Got a TruStage Pension? It's more complicated than a line on your benefits statement.

Between the "Legacy" formula, the Cash Balance formula, and the 2019 plan freeze, most participants aren't sure which rules actually apply to them — or how to maximize what they've earned.

Our latest guide breaks down:
✅ The "greater of" math — which formula wins for you
✅ The "Magic 85" early retirement subsidy
✅ How the 2019 freeze affects rehires & new hires
✅ The Age 55 Rule for avoiding early withdrawal penalties
✅ Lump sum vs. monthly annuity — which fits your goals

If you're a TruStage employee planning for retirement, this one's worth a read.

📖 Read the full guide: https://walknercondon.com/blog/five-things-trustage-pension-plan/

Andrew Klein of Walkner Condon demystifies the TruStage Pension Plan. Learn how the Magic 85 rule, the 2019 freeze, and payout options impact your retirement strategy.

09/24/2026

What if you could access cash from your investment account without selling a single share — or triggering capital gains tax?

Ian & Alicia break down pledged asset lines (PALs) and a lesser-known alternative: box spread loans. Topics include:

✅ How box spread loans differ from PALs, HELOCs & margin loans
✅ Rates around 4% with minimums as low as $10K
✅ A tax deductibility advantage most people don't know about
✅ Real scenario: $100K invested, now worth $500K — what are your options?
✅ Using it to diversify a concentrated position without triggering taxes

If you've ever thought "I need cash but I don't want to sell," this one's for you.

📺 Watch now: https://youtu.be/8qjPp1EYs7w

What if you could access the money in your investment account witho...

09/21/2026

Direct indexing is one of the hottest strategies in investing right now — but does it actually work? Nate, Mitch & Clint break down:

✅ What direct indexing actually is
✅ "Tax alpha" — how it can beat traditional index funds after taxes
✅ Managing concentrated stock gains (early Apple investors, we're looking at you 👀)
✅ Why rising capital gains rates make this strategy even more valuable
✅ Customizing your portfolio around your values, goals & tax situation

If you're a high-net-worth investor, business owner, or retiree trying to keep more of what you earn, this one's worth the watch.

📺 Watch now: https://youtu.be/o2zLmPvgCkg

Direct indexing has become one of the hottest strategies in investi...

09/18/2026

🎁 Thinking about gifting money or assets to your kids while you're still around to see them enjoy it? A few things to keep in mind first:

✅ 2026 annual exclusion: $19,000/recipient ($38,000 for married couples gift-splitting)
✅ Lifetime exemption: $15M individual / $30M married — most people never get close
✅ Tuition & medical bills paid directly to the provider? Unlimited, tax-free, no exclusion used

One catch: gifting appreciated assets now means your kids lose the step-up in basis they'd get if they inherited later. Worth weighing before you decide.

The real key isn't the tax math — it's a clear plan and open conversation with your family. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

https://walknercondon.com/blog/gifting-to-family-members-what-to-know-before-you-give/

Is it better to gift stocks now or leave them as an inheritance? We break down the 2026 annual exclusion rules, the impact of "Trump Accounts," and why communication is your best estate planning tool.

09/15/2026

🤖 AI is everywhere right now — and it's genuinely changing financial planning for the better. Faster analysis, smarter portfolio modeling, better communication.

But here's what it can't do: sit with a client through a market crash. Build trust over 20 years of conversations. Read the emotion behind a tough decision.

We use AI to work smarter. We rely on real relationships to guide you through what actually matters.

Technology can inform the plan. People still make the decisions. 🤝

📖 Read our full take: https://walknercondon.com/blog/what-ai-can-and-cant-do-in-financial-planning/

09/11/2026

🏦 Asset Allocation vs. Asset Location — Are You Missing Half the Equation?

Most people focus on WHAT to invest in (stocks vs. bonds). But WHERE you hold those investments can be just as important for your after-tax returns.

Here's the quick version:

📍 Taxable accounts → great for municipal bonds and index funds/individual stocks (tax-loss harvesting, control over gains)
📍 Tax-deferred accounts (401k/IRA) → better home for high-yield and corporate bonds (taxed as ordinary income anyway)
📍 Roth accounts → ideal for your highest-growth assets, since qualified withdrawals are 100% tax-free

Putting the wrong asset in the wrong "bucket" can quietly erode your returns year after year — even if your overall allocation is spot on.

The best part? This isn't about timing the market or chasing hot stocks. It's simply about smarter placement of what you already own.

👉 Curious whether your accounts are optimized for tax efficiency? Reach out — we're happy to talk through it.

Read the blog
https://walknercondon.com/blog/asset-location-strategy-tax-efficient-investing/

08/28/2026

Big news as we head into the last weekend of August. 👀

Our Managing Partners, Clint Walkner and Nate Condon, sat down to record the first episode in our brand-new podcast studio — a special episode of Gimme Some Truth looking back at some major milestones shaping the future of Walkner Condon:

➡️ One Roof — Unifying four offices into a single, state-of-the-art headquarters
➡️ $1.25 Billion — A major milestone in assets under management
➡️ Team Growth — Alicia's promotion to Partner, Evan's promotion, and Andy King's upcoming retirement
➡️ Our Approach — How we build redundant, collaborative advisory teams so clients are always supported for the long haul

None of this happens without the trust our clients have placed in us. Every milestone here traces back to relationships — and a team built to take care of people for the long term.

Walkner Condon's Managing Partners, Clint Walkner and Nate Condon s...