It’s that time again — the leaves are falling, pumpkin spice is attacking everything, and your money might be feeling a little… crispy around the edges.

So here’s your 5-step Fall Money Fire Drill to go from Hot Mess Express to Game Day Ready:

1️⃣ Cash-Flow Reset – Give your money a job. Bills. Buffer. Goals. (No freeloaders allowed.)
2️⃣ Subscription Sweep – Those “free trials” that grew into $14.99 zombies? Time to cancel ’em.
3️⃣ Debt & Rate Reality Check – Anything over 7% interest is your enemy. Choose your weapon: Avalanche or Snowball.
4️⃣ Safety Nets You’ll Actually Use – Beneficiaries, insurance, credit freeze, digital vault. Do it before Netflix asks if you’re still watching.
5️⃣ Tax Moves Now, Not December – 401(k) match, HSA, Roth check, and maybe a DAF play if you’re feeling generous and strategic.

💥 Run this checklist and your finances go from chaos to calm — no New Year’s resolutions required.

👇 Comment “CHECKLIST” and I’ll send you the full Un-Eff Your Finances: Fall Money Fire Drill guide.

💼 Open Enrollment: The Annual Game of “Guess What These Benefits Actually Mean”

Every fall, HR drops that mysterious email: “It’s time for open enrollment!” And suddenly, you’re scrolling through options that sound like they were written by a committee of lawyers and robots.

☠️ “High-Deductible Health Plan” sounds scary. 💰 “Health Savings Account” sounds like a trap. 💡 And “Flexible Spending Account”? Not flexible enough when you forget to use it by December. That’s where planning actually pays off. In this week’s video, I break down how to make smart benefit elections that fit your financial plan, not just your employer’s brochure. Because open enrollment shouldn’t feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for.

The Parent 529 Playbook: How to Pull Money the Right Way (and What to Do with Leftovers)

If you’re paying college bills with a 529, this is your 4-minute, no-nonsense guide. You’ll learn exactly when to take distributions, what actually qualifies, how to keep an audit-proof paper trail, and smart moves for leftover funds (yes, including the Roth IRA path). No fluff. No “my kid needed the laptop for Netflix.”

What you’ll learn

• Timing rules: Match the 529 distribution to the expense in the same calendar year

• Qualified expenses: Tuition, required fees, on-campus room & board, school-billed meal plans, required books/software

• Off-campus housing: Eligible up to the school’s published allowance

• Two clean payment paths: 529 → school (simplest) or reimburse yourself (with prompt, documented receipts)

• Paper trail that won’t crack under audit: Bills, confirmations, housing docs, receipts, 1098-T, and a simple spreadsheet log

• Leftovers: Change beneficiaries, use for grad/trade programs, scholarship exception, and the 529 → Roth IRA strategy (within rules)

• Pro tip: Coordinate grandparent-owned 529s to avoid financial-aid landmines

Retirement Red Zone: The 20-Year Game Plan (From the 20 to the Goal Line) 🏈

You can’t “cram” for retirement. That’s not a plan—that’s a Hail Mary with a flat football.
In this video, I (Nick St. George, CFP®) lay out a clear, yard-by-yard blueprint from 20 years out to 24 months before retirement—so you’re not guessing at the goal line.

What you’ll learn

• How to set your savings rate, kill high-interest debt, and build smart tax buckets (pre-tax, Roth, brokerage)

• When to use Roth strategies, avoid concentration risk, and optimize benefits (HSA, ESPP, deferred comp)

• How to defend against sequence-of-returns risk and start income design early (pensions, RSUs, options)

• Why Social Security timing (62 vs. FRA vs. 70) is a math problem, not a vibe

• The 5-to-2-year “two-minute drill”: targeted Roth conversions, Medicare/IRMAA planning, mock paychecks

• The final 24-month checklist: cash reserves, withdrawal guardrails, paperwork order—so Day One feels boring (which is beautiful)

👮‍♂️ In the Retirement Unit, financially-motivated crimes against common sense are considered especially heinous…

These are their stories. DUN DUN.

Hi, I’m Nick St. George, CFP®, and in today’s episode of Retirement & Order, we meet Rob and Jen Langston. (Not their real names, of course—the names and some details have been changed to protect the financially innocent.)

They’re retired. Living the good life. Then BOOM 💥—curveball. One of their adult kids hits a financial snag.

Rather than torch their retirement plan with capital gains or mortgage stress, we got creative. No, not “hide your money in a coffee can” creative—strategic creative.

We used an asset-backed loan against their taxable investment account.
✅ No closing costs
✅ No tax returns or underwriting drama
✅ No capital gains
✅ No disruption to their portfolio

Just fast, flexible help—with structure, boundaries, and peace of mind.

🎯 Moral of the story: You can be generous without going broke.

If you’re in the same boat, don’t play financial detective solo. Book a quick call—let’s protect your retirement and your sanity.

🎓💸 Got RSUs and college-bound kids?

Then you might be playing a dangerous game of financial Jenga — and Uncle Sam is just waiting to topple your tower.

In my latest video, I break down two real-life families navigating college costs, RSUs, and the ever-persistent tax goblin that shows up uninvited (and never brings snacks).

👨‍👩‍👦 The Daltons? College bills are now.
👶 The Simmons? Planning way ahead.
Different stages. Different strategies. One simple truth: planning always wins.

And yes — in the spirit of Law & Order — the stories are real, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent (and the occasionally tax-confused).

If you’ve got RSUs vesting and aren’t sure whether to sell, hold, or hide…
Watch this before you let the tax tail wag your financial dog.

📦 Bonus: I explain RSUs in plain English — no CPA required.

🎥 Watch the full video or catch the podcast version — your future self (and your accountant) will thank you.

#FinancialPlanning #RSUs #CollegePlanning #TaxStrategy #SmartMoneyMoves #FinancialAdvisor #HighIncomeFamilies #DunDun

We’ve all been there:
🔹 Debating if your adult kids need another “loan” or just a reality check.
🔹 Arguing about who inherits grandma’s prized casserole dish.
🔹 Rolling your eyes at yet another Amazon box mysteriously appearing at your doorstep.

Money fights happen. But they don’t have to turn your relationship into a Netflix drama.

Here are 5 common money battles couples face—and how to fix them:

1️⃣ Supporting Adult Kids:
They’re adults, but somehow your payroll keeps growing. Time to draw some boundaries before your home turns into a wildlife preserve (you know, “Don’t feed the animals,” right?).

2️⃣ Inheritance Drama:
Decide together who gets what before your kids decide with lawyers. (Spoiler alert: No one enjoys a family feud sequel).

3️⃣ Opposite Spending Styles:
Whether you’re the “budget wizard” or the “flash sale aficionado,” create space for BOTH styles. A little compromise = fewer glares at dinner.

4️⃣ Hidden Spending:
If you’re hiding packages or credit card statements, you’re not hiding money—you’re hiding trust issues. Pour some bourbon, and have the talk regularly. No judgment, just honesty.

5️⃣ Conflicting Goals:
Camper vs. 401(k)? Retirement vs. adventure? It’s not “either/or,” it’s “yes, and.” Dream together, plan together, thrive together.

🎬 If you believe retirement is just about having enough money, then you’re missing the bigger picture.

Sure, money matters, but retirement isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s about experiences. It’s trading your morning commute for sunrise tee times, swapping endless meetings for endless adventures, and replacing your daily grind with checking off your bucket list. 🏌️‍♂️🌴⛵

Retirement is the freedom to choose how you spend your days—making memories, traveling, and finally taking the time to truly enjoy what you’ve earned.

I’d love to hear what’s at the top of YOUR retirement bucket list. Skydiving? A month in Italy? Finally beating your personal best on the golf course?

👇 Share your dream retirement experience below! 👇