Estate Planning Basics

Why Do You Invest?

In this episode of Money and Taxes from Bb to XYZ, Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA, and Regina Neenan, CFP®, ABFP®, explore one of the foundational questions of financial planning: Why do you invest? Using investment risk as the starting point, they explain that risk isn’t simply about stock prices rising and falling; it also includes factors like liquidity, inflation, savings rates, income needs, and the possibility of not reaching your financial goals. They distinguish between risk tolerance (the amount of investment risk you’re willing to accept) and risk capacity (the amount of risk your financial circumstances can reasonably support), then show how those concepts drive asset allocation and even where investments should be held for maximum tax efficiency. TAKEAWAYS * Understand your risk tolerance first. Determine how much investment risk you’re personally comfortable taking before choosing an investment strategy. * Evaluate your risk capacity. Your timeline, financial goals, available resources, liquidity needs, and overall circumstances may require you to take more (or less) risk than your tolerance alone suggests. * Match investments to the right accounts. Once your asset allocation is determined, use asset location strategies by placing growth and income-producing investments in the most tax-efficient account types to maximize long-term results. HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE SHOW? Email podcast@fpfoco.com, and Jason or Regina might answer it in a future episode! New episodes drop every other Thursday, and they’re always ad-free with no subscription required. Learn more about FPFoCo at fpfoco.com and connect with us on social media @fpfoco. DISCLOSURES Jason Speciner and Regina Neenan are investment advisor representatives of FPFoCo, a registered investment advisor. The information in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It may not apply to your individual circumstances and should not be considered financial, investment, or tax advice. © 2026 FPFoCo

Tolerate This: Your Risk & Your Investments

In this episode of Money and Taxes from Bb to XYZ, Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA, and Regina Neenan, CFP®, ABFP®, unpack what "investment risk" really means and why it goes beyond simply watching account values rise and fall. They explain the difference between risk tolerance, or how much risk you’re willing to take, and risk capacity, or how much risk your financial circumstances can support. The conversation explores how goals, timelines, liquidity needs, savings rates, and retirement plans all shape an appropriate investment strategy. Regina and Jason also discuss how risk translates into asset allocation and why asset location — placing the right investments in the right types of accounts — can add tax-savvy efficiency to a portfolio. TAKEAWAYS * Risk tolerance measures how much investment risk you're emotionally willing to take. * Risk capacity considers your real-life circumstances, including goals, timelines, liquidity needs, and available resources. * Smart investing also means using asset location to place growth and income-producing investments in the most tax-efficient accounts. HAVE A TAX QUESTION FOR THE SHOW? Email podcast@fpfoco.com, and Jason or Regina might answer it in a future episode! New episodes drop every other Thursday, and they’re always ad-free with no subscription required. Learn more about FPFoCo at fpfoco.com and connect with us on social media @fpfoco. DISCLOSURES Jason Speciner and Regina Neenan are investment advisor representatives of FPFoCo, a registered investment advisor. The information in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It may not apply to your individual circumstances and should not be considered financial, investment, or tax advice. © 2026 FPFoCo

Tax Planning Changes You Can Make Now

In this episode of Money and Taxes from BB to XYZ, Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA, and Regina Neenan, CFP®, ABFP®, discuss what to do when a mid-year income boost — like a raise, bonus, RSU vest, or ESPP benefit — creates new tax planning opportunities. They explain why more income can mean more taxes, but also more ways to strategically reduce taxable income and redirect cash flow. The conversation covers bonus withholding, pre-tax employer retirement plan contributions, HSAs, deferred compensation, RSUs, ESPPs, charitable giving, and donor-advised funds. Regina and Jason emphasize that the key is building a tax projection early enough in the year to understand what’s changing and make smart decisions before year-end. TAKEAWAYS * Start by looking for ways to reduce taxable income at the source, such as 401(k), HSA, IRA, or deferred compensation options. * Consider selling RSU or ESPP shares when they vest so you can diversify, manage tax exposure, and redeploy the cash intentionally. * After source-level planning, review tax-return strategies like charitable contributions, appreciated stock gifts, and donor-advised funds. HAVE A TAX QUESTION FOR THE SHOW? Email podcast@fpfoco.com, and Jason or Regina might answer it in a future episode! New episodes drop every other Thursday, and they’re always ad-free with no subscription required. Learn more about FPFoCo at fpfoco.com and connect with us on social media @fpfoco. DISCLOSURES Jason Speciner and Regina Neenan are investment advisor representatives of FPFoCo, a registered investment advisor. The information in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It may not apply to your individual circumstances and should not be considered financial, investment, or tax advice. © 2026 FPFoCo

What Can Your 2025 Taxes Tell You About Your 2026 Tax Year?

In this episode of Money and Taxes from BB to XYZ, Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA, and Regina Neenan, CFP®, ABFP®, explain why mid-year tax planning can be just as or even more valuable than year-end planning. With many 2025 tax returns now filed and many months left in the 2026 tax year, they discuss how listeners can use last year’s return to identify planning opportunities while there’s still time to act. The conversation covers key tax law changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including higher standard deductions, SALT deduction changes, expanded charitable giving opportunities, and above-the-line deductions. Jason also walks through where to look on your Form 1040 to review income, deductions, payments, credits, and withholding so you can make smarter tax decisions before year-end. TAKEAWAYS * Use your 2025 tax return as a roadmap to spot 2026 planning opportunities while there’s still time to make changes. * Review income, deductions, and credits to understand what may be different this year. * Don’t tip the IRS. Aim to withhold or pay in enough to avoid penalties while keeping your money productive throughout the year. HAVE A TAX QUESTION FOR THE SHOW? Email podcast@fpfoco.com, and Jason or Regina might answer it in a future episode! New episodes drop every other Thursday, and they’re always ad-free with no subscription required. Learn more about FPFoCo at fpfoco.com and connect with us on social media @fpfoco. DISCLOSURES Jason Speciner and Regina Neenan are investment advisor representatives of FPFoCo, a registered investment advisor. The information in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It may not apply to your individual circumstances and should not be considered financial, investment, or tax advice. © 2026 FPFoCo

We’re Insuring What, Now?

In this episode of Money and Taxes from BB to XYZ, Jason Speciner, CFP®, EA, and Regina Neenan, CFP®, ABFP®, focus on three key types of personal insurance protection: life, disability, and long-term care insurance. They explain how each type of coverage fits into a broader financial plan, when different policies may make sense, and why insurance should be used intentionally. The conversation covers term versus permanent life insurance, income protection through disability insurance, and the growing costs and evolving strategies surrounding long-term care coverage, including hybrid life-and-long-term-care policies. Jason and Regina also emphasize tailoring insurance coverage to your stage of life, financial goals, and family needs, rather than buying coverage simply because it's available. TAKEAWAYS * Disability insurance, or “income insurance,” is often the first coverage to prioritize among these three because protecting your ability to earn income is critical during your working years. * Life insurance should be tied to a specific financial need, such as income replacement, debt payoff, estate liquidity, or legacy planning, rather than purchased without a clear purpose. * Long-term care planning may involve a combination of insurance, personal assets, and home equity. Hybrid life-and-long-term-care policies can provide flexibility if long-term care is never needed. HAVE A TAX QUESTION FOR THE SHOW? Email podcast@fpfoco.com, and Jason or Regina might answer it in a future episode! New episodes drop every other Thursday, and they’re always ad-free with no subscription required. Learn more about FPFoCo at fpfoco.com and connect with us on social media @fpfoco. DISCLOSURES Jason Speciner and Regina Neenan are investment advisor representatives of FPFoCo, a registered investment advisor. The information in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It may not apply to your individual circumstances and should not be considered financial, investment, or tax advice. © 2026 FPFoCo