529s w/ Ann Garcia, CFP®: Funding, Growing, and Getting Money Out of Your 529 Pt 2 of 2

The Estate Planning Problem: Why Having a Plan Is Only Half the Battle w/ Anne Rahmeier

Estate planning is one of those things everyone knows they should do and most people keep putting off. But what happens when you finally do it and still get it wrong? In this episode, Tom sits down with estate planning attorney Anne Rahmeier to walk through the five most common mistakes she sees in her practice. Whether you are just starting to think about your estate plan or have not reviewed yours in years, this conversation will give you the clarity to actually move forward. Anne brings a rare combination of legal expertise and a genuine educator's heart. After more than a decade in the classroom, she now applies that same approach to helping families get their affairs in order before life gets complicated. What you will learn: * Why hiring an attorney is not enough and you have to follow through on funding your trust * The real problem with online estate planning tools (hint: it is not the software) * Why your estate plan should not look like your neighbor's * The ancillary documents most people skip and why they may matter more than your will * How often to review your documents and what life events should trigger an update This episode is especially relevant for sandwich generation families navigating their own financial lives while keeping an eye on aging parents. Anne Rahmeier practices estate planning law in the Kansas City at Weese Rahmeier [https://weeserahmeier.com/] This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

Student Loans: What You Need to Know Right Now w/ David Gourley

Student loans are changing fast, and July 1, 2026 is a deadline that matters. Tom sits down with David Gourley, enrolled agent and student loan strategy expert, to walk through what is happening this summer in the federal student loan space and what borrowers need to do before it is too late. David has completed more than 700 student loan consultations and helped clients secure over $17 million in forgiveness. He specializes in working with teachers, public servants, and anyone who needs a clear-eyed guide through one of the most complicated corners of personal finance. What they cover in this episode: * Public Service Loan Forgiveness is not going away, but nonprofit eligibility rules could change * New borrowing limits for graduate and Parent PLUS borrowers take effect July 1 * The repayment plan landscape: what is sunsetting, what is new, and which plan you should be on based on when you took out your loans * Why borrowers who took out loans between 2007 and 2014 need to apply for PAYE now * The Parent PLUS consolidation deadline and what happens if you miss it * What 7 million SAVE borrowers can expect after July 1 and the 90-day window to act * Married filing separately: when it makes sense and how to run the numbers * How consolidation and weighted average payment credits can actually work in your favor David Gourley can be found on the links below:  Newsletter link: https://www.k-12planning.com/newsletter [https://www.k-12planning.com/newsletter] Website: https://www.k-12planning.com/ [https://www.k-12planning.com/] Student Loan Consultation: https://calendly.com/k-12planning [https://calendly.com/k-12planning] This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

529s w/ Ann Garcia, CFP®: Funding, Growing, and Getting Money Out of Your 529 Pt 2 of 2

You've opened the 529. Now what? In Part 2 of this series, Tom and Ann Garcia pick up where they left off and get into the practical side of college savings: how much to actually put away, how to invest it, all the ways you can get the money out, and the question every parent asks, "does this hurt my kid's financial aid?" Ann walks through her savings benchmarks, explains why the gifting page is one of the most underused tools in a college plan, and breaks down exactly how 529s are treated on the FAFSA. The short answer: better than almost any alternative. What you'll learn in this episode: * How much to save (and how to think about it if the full amount isn't realistic) * Why small annual increases compound into big results * How to invest inside your 529 as your goals evolve * Every legitimate way to get money out -- qualified and non-qualified * How to handle a 529 if your child attends private K-12 * How 529 assets and distributions are treated on the FAFSA Resources mentioned: * How to Pay for College by Ann Garcia [https://howtopayforcollege.com/book] - available on Amazon * Ann's website: howtopayforcollege.com [https://www.howtopayforcollege.com] * Utah My529 plan: my529.org [https://www.my529.org] Missed Part 1? Start there -- we cover what a 529 is and how to pick one. This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

529s w/ Ann Garcia, CFP®: What is a 529 and How do you Pick One? Pt. 1 of 2

529 plans are one of the most powerful tools in a college savings strategy -- and one of the most misunderstood. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Tom sits down with Ann Garcia, author of How to Pay for College and one of the most respected voices in college planning, to break it all down. They cover what a 529 actually is, how it compares to a Roth IRA and a 401k, and where it fits alongside your other savings priorities. Ann shares her 10 percent rule for balancing college and retirement savings, makes the case for why college is still worth it (even with everything changing), and gives a dead-simple framework for picking the right plan. What you'll learn in this episode: * What a 529 plan is and how it works * How to balance college savings with retirement savings (the 10 percent rule) * Why college still delivers strong ROI financial and otherwise * The two-plan framework for picking a 529: your state plan or Utah My529 * How to use a gifting page to get family contributions into the account * Why advisor-sold 529 plans are almost never the right choice Resources mentioned: * How to Pay for College by Ann Garcia -- available on Amazon * Ann's website: howtopayforcollege.com [https://www.howtopayforcollege.com] * Utah My529 plan: my529.org [https://my529.org/] * Morningstar annual 529 plan ratings [https://www.morningstar.com/personal-finance/morningstar-529-ratings-best-plans] This is Part 1 of 2. Part 2 covers funding strategies, growing your balance, qualified distributions, and the FAFSA question. This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

The Concentrated Stock Problem: Options, Strategy, and the Right Team

When one stock makes up a disproportionately large portion of your portfolio, knowing what to do with it, especially if it's highly appreciated, can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Tom talks Lauren through considerations when looking at a portfolio with a highly concentrated stock position. They walk through what concentration actually means, why context matters more than any single percentage threshold, and a range of strategies worth knowing about. Topics covered in this episode: * What a concentrated stock position is and when it typically signals a need for closer attention * Why there is no universal answer, and how the bigger financial picture changes everything * Tax loss harvesting and how losses elsewhere in a portfolio can help offset gains * Direct indexing as a technology-driven way to generate losses at scale * Exchange funds and the trade-offs that come with them * Options overlays, including collars and covered calls, as tools for managing risk * Slow selling as a straightforward, often underused approach * Charitable gifting, direct stock donations, and donor-advised funds * Estate planning considerations, including the step-up in cost basis at death Many of these strategies involve significant tax and legal considerations. Throughout the episode, Tom emphasizes the importance of working collaboratively with your financial planner, CPA, and estate planning attorney before taking any action. This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.