College costs aren't getting cheaper, which has more families asking whether a 529 plan is the right way to save for education. Nick and Eric break down how these accounts work, why they've become more flexible in recent years, and what parents and grandparents should think about before opening one. Before you decide how to save for education, it's important to understand how these decisions have an impact beyond just college tuition.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🎓 529 Basics: Understanding education savings plans

📍 State Benefits: Tax advantages vary by state

💰 Funding Strategies: Different ways to contribute

🔄 Rule Changes: More flexibility than before

📚 Long-Term Planning: Start thinking beyond education and tuition

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Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

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Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

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In this episode, Alex Karaban, forward for the UConn Huskies, joins host Joel Johnson, CFP® to talk about the mindset behind high-level performance and learning to handle setbacks as he prepares for the 2026 NBA Draft. Alex shares how his upbringing, work ethic, and mindset have shaped his journey from late-blooming hooper to championship-level player. They explore the discipline, pressure, and growth that come with competing at an elite level.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🏀 Built On Discipline: Early family sacrifices shaped his work ethic and mindset

🚀 Growth Over Talent: Success came from development, not early dominance

🔥 Coaching With Purpose: Tough coaching works when trust is built off the court

🧠 Stay The Same: Confidence comes from consistency, not results

🎓 Academics & Life After Basketball: Long-term vision extends beyond the game

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

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More than half of Americans are missing a critical step in their retirement plan, and it has nothing to do with investments or savings. Despite knowing it's important, many people delay or avoid putting the right protections in place for their families. Nick walks through the essential estate planning documents you need, what happens if you don't have them, and how proper planning can protect your assets, reduce taxes, and prevent unnecessary stress for your loved ones.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🧾 Missing Documents: Most lack core estate plans

⚖️ Wills Vs Trusts: Understand key differences

🏥 Medical Decisions: Plan for incapacity scenarios

💰 Tax Exposure: High-tax states increase risk

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

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A pension buyout might be one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, and once it's done, there's no going back. Today, Nick talks through how to think about this choice in a way that fits your bigger financial picture. It's not just about numbers—it's about control, flexibility, and what you want your retirement to look like. The right answer depends entirely on your goals.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📉 Pension Decline: Fewer workers have pensions, making decisions more impactful

📊 Interest Rates Matter: Rates directly affect lump sum values

💰 Lump Sum Flexibility: IRA rollovers create more control and planning options

🔁 Income Tradeoff: Guaranteed income vs flexibility and legacy

⚠️ Planning Required: Mistakes in investing, taxes, or strategy can be costly

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

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Tax season may be over, but the smartest planning starts now. Nick walks through simple, proactive steps you can take today to avoid stress, surprises, and missed opportunities next year. He focuses on how to approach the year ahead with intention so you're not reacting when deadlines hit again. A little planning now can make a big difference later.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Maximize Deductions: Use tax-deferred accounts during high-income years

📊 Know Contribution Limits: Age-based limits can increase your savings

⚖️ Withholding Strategy: Avoid big bills or overpaying throughout the year

🔐 Stay Organized: Track documents securely in one place

🧭 Professional Guidance: Personalized planning improves long-term outcomes

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3CcAzai

It's a simple question with a surprisingly complex answer: how often should you actually check your investment portfolio? For many investors, it becomes a habit, sometimes daily, sometimes even hourly. But that constant monitoring can create more harm than good, leading to emotional decisions that derail long-term results.

Nick and Jake elaborate on the real dangers of checking your portfolio too often, and the equally important risks of ignoring it altogether. Tune in to hear how a clear plan can help you stay focused on what actually drives long-term success.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

👀 Portfolio Habits: Many investors check too often without realizing the impact

⚠️ Over-checking Risk: Frequent monitoring can lead to emotional, impulsive decisions

🙈 Ignoring Risk: Never checking can allow imbalances and missed opportunities

🧭 Find the Balance: A consistent, intentional review schedule works best

📊 Plan Over Panic: A clear strategy reduces the urge to react to short-term noise

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

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Financial decisions don't exist in a vacuum, and the cost of getting them wrong can quietly add up over time. Studies show that a lack of financial knowledge costs the average adult hundreds of dollars each year, often through missed tax opportunities, poor allocation decisions, or simply not understanding how different pieces of a plan work together. Today, Jake and Nick break down five practical ways to sharpen your financial IQ, especially as retirement approaches. It's not about knowing everything, it's about knowing enough to make smarter moves and avoid preventable mistakes.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📘 Financial Literacy: Small knowledge gaps can lead to real costs

🔄 Retirement Phases: The strategy shifts once paychecks stop

📊 Know Your Numbers: Taxes and income planning go hand-in-hand

💬 Money Conversations: Talking openly improves decision-making

🤝 Advisor Partnership: Guidance helps connect knowledge to action

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3CcAzai

If you're nearing retirement with a solid nest egg, the next big question isn't how much you've saved, it's how much you'll actually keep. In this episode, Nick answers a listener question from a 62-year-old with $800,000 saved who wants to know how to lower taxes in retirement. It's a scenario many people face, and the decisions made in these final working years can have a major impact on long-term outcomes. The takeaway is simple: retirement planning isn't just about investments, it's about building a tax strategy that works for decades.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🧾 Tax Strategy: Why where your money sits matters just as much as how much you have

🏥 Healthcare Gap: Planning for insurance before Medicare kicks in

📅 Income Timing: When to take Social Security and start withdrawals

💸 Lower Taxes Now: Using contributions and deductions while still working

🔄 Roth Conversions: Moving money strategically to reduce future tax burdens

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3CcAzai

It sounds unbelievable, but millions of Americans have lost track of old retirement accounts, and the total adds up to over a trillion dollars. If you've changed jobs over the years, there's a real chance money could still be sitting with a former employer. In this episode, Nick walks through how to recover these lost accounts, because nothing feels better than "found money" especially when it's your retirement.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📍 Where to Look – Employers, providers, state databases

🪜 Step-by-Step Search – Practical recovery checklist

📊 Planning Matters – Don't just find it, structure it

💬 Retirement Q&A – Managing 401(k)s after retiring

🔄 Rollovers & Roth – Taxes, timing, and strategy

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3CcAzai

To celebrate Women's Day, Nick is joined by his colleague and financial advisor Jen Killilea to explore why women investors often outperform men, drawing on insights from a major Fidelity study. They highlight the behavioral advantages many women bring to investing and why those traits can lead to stronger long-term results. You'll also hear about the unique financial challenges women face, from longer life expectancy and wage gaps to caregiving interruptions and healthcare and long-term care costs.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 Investing Psychology: Behavior drives long-term outcomes

⏳ Patience Wins: Staying the course beats frequent trading

📉 Less Trading: Fewer moves can lead to better results

🏥 Healthcare Planning: Longer lives require deeper planning

📚 Financial Education: Simple guidance builds confidence

Check out the study here:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211008005269/en/Make-Way-for-Women-Investors-Record-Numbers-Higher-Returns---Fidelity-Study-Finds-50-Increase-in-Women-Investing-Outside-of-Retirement-New-10-Year-Analysis-Reveals-Women-Out-Performing-Men

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Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3CcAzai