Nelson Financial Planning

10/20/2026

Being forced into early retirement at 57 doesn't have to mean claiming Social Security next month or rolling your 401(k) into an IRA — and both moves can cost you more than you'd expect. Joel walks through what to check first and the five mistakes he sees people make under pressure. He also breaks down the new 2026 Roth catch-up contributions rule that is quietly changing take-home pay for workers who earned over $150,000 last year, what "safe" should actually mean for your money, and why a record 401(k) balance is not the same thing as a retirement paycheck.

Being forced into early retirement at 57 doesn't have to mean claim...

10/19/2026

Is your money really “safe”? From market swings and inflation to income, liquidity, and longevity, safety means more than protecting your principal. Listen to this week's episode of Dollars & Sense to learn how different investments address different risks—and why time horizon matters.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/forced-into-retirement-roth-catch-up-rules-investment-safety-record-balances--75826679

10/16/2026

The AI bubble question is on nearly every client call right now: the market is at all-time highs, AI companies are making a lot of money, and nobody wants to be the person who invested at the top. Chet Cowart, CF2®, CRPC™ and Kristin Kalley, CPA, CFP®, CF2® look at what the earnings actually show, how this run compares to 2000, and what to check in your own portfolio first.

The AI bubble question is on nearly every client call right now: th...

10/14/2026

Trump accounts just changed, and your child may now own a single company's stock that you didn't choose, can't refuse, and generally can't sell for five years. In late September the Treasury auto-enrolled over 60 million children and opened the door for charities to donate individual stocks into their accounts. Same week, clients kept calling about the stock market at all-time highs and whether the AI bubble is real. Chet Cowart, CF2®, CRPC™ and Kristin Kalley, CPA, CFP®, CF2® take both head-on.

Trump accounts just changed, and your child may now own a single co...

10/12/2026

Markets are hitting new highs, AI stocks are surging, and Trump Accounts are changing. What should families and retirees do now?

🎧Listen to the full episode here:https://www.spreaker.com/episode/changes-to-trump-accounts-ai-stocks-market-highs-6-moves-retirees-should-consider--75649820

10/09/2026

Your health portfolio is going to determine how much of your financial portfolio you actually get to use and enjoy. That is Joel Garris's case for treating health as a financial planning issue, and in this segment, he gives five questions to ask yourself.

Your health portfolio is going to determine how much of your financ...

10/07/2026

The theft loss deduction used to give scam victims a way to write off stolen money as part of their itemized deductions. Since 2018, Joel says, that ability has been "super, super narrow," and money taken out of an IRA to pay a scammer still becomes taxable income.

Also in this episode: what investors should not do in midterm season, and five questions to ask about your health in retirement.

The theft loss deduction used to give scam victims a way to write o...

10/05/2026

Your retirement plan is about more than the numbers. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris talks about building a “health portfolio,” protecting yourself from financial fraud, and keeping your investment plan steady when election headlines get loud.

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/health-fraud-politics-three-planning-conversations-investors-can-t-ignore--75482785

10/01/2026

Why bond funds lose value when interest rates rise is the part every investor already knows — it's the second half of the story that almost nobody finishes. 📉 With long-term Treasury yields at their highest since 2004, Chet Cowart walks through the MFS hypothetical where the bond portfolio that fell hardest in year one finished roughly $20,000 ahead by year 10.

Why bond funds lose value when interest rates rise is the part ever...

09/30/2026

If you're wondering what to do if your bank account is hacked, the first hour matters more than anything else you do afterward. Scammers now run a small "test" transaction to see if it clears — then come back for the big one. 🚨 Joel Garris and Chet Cowart walk through the exact 10-step playbook, then explain why long-term Treasury yields at their highest since 2004 are actually the second half of a bond story most investors never hear.

If you're wondering what to do if your bank account is hacked, the ...