As I shared with TheStreet, the appeal is obvious: Most 401(k)s today feel bland, offering little shelter from inflation or market shocks. But there’s another side to this story. Adding more investment choices doesn’t always add value—especially when it means more complexity, less transparency, and higher risk.

They sound clever, but do they actually stand up to scrutiny—or could they be leading everyday investors astray?  As I shared with Kiplinger, catchy phrases like “Sell in May and go away” are a perfect example of the rhyme-as-reason effect, a cognitive bias where we believe ideas simply because they sound memorable. In reality, trusting old Wall Street adages can actually lock you out of gains or push you into unnecessary risk.

As I shared with Kiplinger, far too many men treat retirement planning (and investing) as another contest—pursuing top returns, trying to outsmart the market, or going solo until something goes wrong. This overconfidence may work in the boardroom, but when it comes to retirement, humility, openness, and seeking advice are your true allies.

As I put it for Bankrate, “Even with the arrival of ETFs and new brokerage access, retirees should treat digital currencies like a potent spice: A dash can liven up a recipe, but too much can ruin the whole meal. The core of your retirement nest egg deserves to be sturdy and time-tested.” For clients who are determined to include crypto, I recommend keeping speculative assets (including crypto) at no more than 10% of the overall portfolio—and always weighing new opportunities against your hard-earned peace of mind.

“Should I take my Social Security at 62 before the system changes?” As I shared with Kiplinger, making this decision out of fear rarely serves you well. Unless your financial plan clearly shows otherwise, grabbing Social Security early can lock in a permanent reduction—up to 30% less than waiting until your full retirement age. And if benefit cuts do happen, early claimers could face a "double whammy" of both early-claiming penalties and potential across-the-board reductions.

According to a recent Investopedia feature, many Americans set extremely high benchmarks—thinking a $270,000 salary or over $5 million in net worth defines “making it.” But as I noted in the article, true contentment isn’t just about hitting big numbers: “There’s a certain point where having enough is enough. And it’s not so much that you’re happy, but you’re satisfied.”

As I shared with Yahoo Finance, this much higher SALT cap will make a real difference for many of my clients in states like New York, Oregon, and California. For the first time in years, some are finding that it actually pays to itemize their deductions again, particularly those holding larger mortgages. This change is more than a technical tweak—it could shift thousands of dollars back into homeowners’ pockets.

Considering an annuity as part of your retirement income plan? You’re not alone—annuities can offer steady income and peace of mind for retirees. But as retirement professionals, including me,  point out in a recent MSN feature, some common pitfalls can turn an annuity from a safety net into a costly mistake. Here’s how you (or your loved ones) can steer clear of trouble and make the most of annuities in your wealth management strategy.

Taxes might not be the most exciting part of investing, but as I discussed on the recent Money Talk podcast episode, they’re absolutely crucial to long-term wealth building. After all, “it’s not what you make, it’s what you keep.” Whether you’re a young professional just getting started or aiming to refine your retirement portfolio, having a tax-savvy investment strategy puts more dollars in your pocket over time.

Drawing inspiration from the second law of thermodynamics (a.k.a. entropy), the piece explores a universal truth: left unchecked, disorder creeps into all systems—including your financial life and retirement dreams. And as I shared with Kiplinger, “If you don’t drive the agenda, time, money and energy will slip away on someone else’s terms.” In other words: great outcomes in retirement don’t happen by accident. They happen by design.

As I shared with CBS News, gold can definitely play a role in an investment portfolio—but not as a ticket to riches or a headline-driven gamble. Instead, gold shines as a hedge: it helps diversify your portfolio and can offset volatility, particularly when the world feels more anxious than assured. I like to compare gold to a raincoat in your closet: it’s not the foundation of your wardrobe, but you’re glad to have it when storms roll in.

A recent SUCCESS Magazine article dug into why you should keep contributing to your 401(k)—even when the headlines are scary. Markets are notoriously hard to time; if you pause contributions, you risk missing out on the gains when things rebound. More importantly, stopping your 401(k) not only breaks a valuable savings habit, but also makes it likely you’ll spend that “extra” cash instead of saving it. As I noted in the article, with all the streaming services, online subscriptions, and daily expenses, it’s easy to lose track and let your budget drift.

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.