Here’s the big picture: accidental overpayments account for less than 1% of all Social Security dollars, but the consequences for those affected can be life-changing—especially for the roughly one in ten retirees who rely on Social Security for over 90% of their total income. As I shared with Financial Planning, “Any abrupt policy swings, especially those affecting core retirement income, threaten to erode public confidence in the SSA’s decision-making processes."

It’s no secret—these days, checking your 401(k) or investment portfolio can feel a bit like bracing for a horror movie jump scare. With the recent $6.6 trillion stock-market wipeout making headlines, it’s tempting to keep refreshing your balances. But as I shared with MarketWatch, that’s usually an emotional rollercoaster best avoided. Instead, focus on “meaningful, grounded” financial planning steps you can actually control—and give yourself a break from the blinking red numbers.

This reversal means seniors may suddenly face a zero-dollar check if the government claims an overpayment, a move that’s expected to recover $7 billion over the next decade but could be devastating for those on fixed incomes.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is reinstating its full “clawback” policy for overpayments—meaning that, starting March 27, retirees who owe money back to SSA could see their entire monthly benefit withheld, rather than the previous 10% cap.As I shared with Employee Benefit News, many recipients don’t even know there’s an issue until a formal notice arrives. This policy puts extra pressure on retirees to review their payment history and be proactive about understanding any SSA communications.

 In just the past week, Bitcoin is down nearly 12% and Ethereum has tumbled 16%. Over the last month, those losses stretch even further, with Bitcoin off over 18% and Ethereum down almost 28%. Throw in high-profile hacks (like the $1.5 billion stolen from Bybit) and it’s no wonder crypto investors feel punch-drunk. So, why is crypto down? As I told Bankrate, cryptocurrencies are more like a high-stakes roller coaster than a blue-chip stock. Right now, three big factors are at play.

As I shared with Investopedia, our brains love rhymes and easy rules, but “please don’t do anything in any month based on seven syllables and a rhyme scheme.” Seasonality aside, history—and the math—show that “time in the market” beats “timing the market.” Pulling out, even temporarily, means risking missing out on rebounds and compound growth that drive financial wellness over time.

Why do even smart people make dumb investing decisions? That’s exactly what I explored as a guest on the Money Tree Investing Podcast, episode 508: "Your Brain Is A Bad Investor…Here’s How You Change It." We broke down how cognitive biases—like confirmation bias, anchoring, hindsight bias, status quo bias, and more—can quietly sabotage our financial goals, whether we’re focused on retirement planning, building an investment portfolio, or just trying to avoid the next big financial “oops.”

On a recent episode of the "My Worst Investment Ever" podcast, I shared a personal story that’s all-too-relatable for many newer investors: trusting in rumor, chasing hype, and feeling invincible—until you’re not. Early in my career, I bought a hot tech stock based purely on peer recommendations and market trends, ignoring essential financial planning advice and skipping my research. The portfolio became lopsided, lacking diversification, and ultimately, my 10s of thousands turned into just a few hundred dollars. Painful? Absolutely. But also educational.

In a world of market mayhem and financial noise, how can investors build confidence and clarity in their long-term plans? That’s exactly what I explored with #BIZ with the Beard in Episode #55, “Claiming Victory.” We dug into why the best retirement planning, wealth management, and investment advice often starts not with complex charts, but with lessons from the past. As a certified financial planner and founder of Victory Independent Planning, I’ve learned that the stories—from famous historical figures to the cycles of market booms and busts—help clients cut through fear and make smarter choices.

Recently, I had the pleasure of joining “The Road Less Babbled” for a deep dive into the surprisingly powerful connection between history, human behavior, and financial decision-making. As someone who started their career with a degree in military history and a nearly empty savings account—not to mention nine years as a U.S. Naval Flight Officer—I know firsthand that the lessons of the past are more relevant to your financial plan than most people realize.

 In the segment, I emphasized that markets and economies are cyclical: periods of stress, inflation, or soaring gas prices do pass. But the investors who thrive are those with a plan—a diversified, resilient approach they can live with through every market cycle, not just when things feel easy. When asked about where to invest right now, I explained that classic strategies like a standard 60/40 stocks-to-bonds portfolio may not offer as much protection as we think, especially with the bond market facing headwinds from low or rising interest rates.

I had the opportunity to share my perspective as a quoted financial advisor in this very article. My advice? Don’t let marketing shine or catchy fund names sway your financial planning. “Smart beta” strategies come in lots of flavors—some focus on dividends, some on low volatility, others on value or momentum. The challenge for most retirement investors is that these factor-based approaches can be complicated, can underperform for years, and often cost more than a simple index fund.

But does this model fit every investor? As I shared directly with Fortune, “Even if you are a raving fan [of a brand like Netflix], you probably don’t have a real relationship with them. A subscription isn’t a relationship, which is why I am not convinced that this model will stand the test of time.” My concern as a fiduciary financial advisor is that a scalable, subscription-led approach might undermine the customized service, behavioral coaching, and trust that truly drive successful long-term wealth management. The need for scale could eat into that critical personal touch—making it tough to deliver real financial planning advice that’s tailored to your goals and life.

As I shared with TheSteet.com, as fiduciary financial advisor, I can confirm: the clients who get specific about what they want in retirement (“Where will you live? What will your days look like?”) are the ones who build smarter, more resilient plans. Science backs this up. Studies show that “seeing” your retirement—jotting down goals, using vision boards, or even working with a certified financial planner to create mock-ups of your future—makes you more likely to save and stick to those goals.

Finding the right financial advisor is one of the most important financial planning decisions you’ll ever make—and one where some due diligence pays big dividends. In a recent interview with Authority Magazine, I had the chance to walk through the five must-have qualities you should seek in a financial advisor (and what red flags to watch for), drawing directly from my experience as a fiduciary and certified financial planner.

As SELF Magazine’s latest feature explains, not every charity is created equal—and it takes more than good intentions to make sure your hard-earned dollars do the most good. As someone passionate about financial planning and wise giving, I was pleased to contribute my perspective as a certified financial planner in the article. First and foremost, your charitable giving strategy should fit your unique goals and values. As I shared with SELF, I always encourage clients to consider both national charities (with wider reach) and local nonprofits (with more direct impact).

Some missteps are all about timing—like waiting until the tax-filing deadline to fund your IRA, which can mean missed compounding growth over the years. Others are purely missed opportunities, such as forgetting to use a Roth IRA, FSA, HSA, or a 529 plan to maximize your tax advantages. One classic strategy I always highlight with clients is the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD): If you’re age 70½ or older and want to donate your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) directly to charity, you can prevent that withdrawal from increasing your adjusted gross income. As I shared in the Forbes piece, it’s a move that requires advance planning—but evaluating it early can mean real tax savings while supporting causes you care about.