Education – Un Eff Your Finances

The Parent 529 Playbook: EP 24

By Un Eff Your Finances | September 16, 2025

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

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Helping Without Derailing Your Retirement

By Un Eff Your Finances | August 18, 2025

👮‍♂️ 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.

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What to do with RSU’s

By Un Eff Your Finances | August 4, 2025

🎓💸 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

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5 Money Fights

By Un Eff Your Finances | July 28, 2025

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.

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Volatility Isn’t the Enemy

By Un Eff Your Finances | June 30, 2025

Volatility Isn’t the Villain—Your Reaction Might Be

⚠️ Breaking news: The market went down.
🎉 Also breaking: It went back up. And down again. And… you get the idea.

If market swings give you anxiety and make you want to cash out faster than a kid with birthday money at Target—this one’s for you.

Because here’s the truth: Volatility isn’t the enemy. Panic is.

📉 The Market Is a Roller Coaster—Not a Death Trap

Yes, it goes up and down. But like a roller coaster, unless you jump off mid-ride, you’ll end up back on solid ground. Investors who stay buckled in, even through the loops and dips, historically come out ahead.

🧠 The Cost of Freaking Out

Missing just a handful of the best market days can crush your long-term returns. And spoiler alert: those “best days” often come right after the worst ones. Selling out during chaos feels safe… until you realize you locked in your losses and missed the rebound party.

🛟 What Should You Do Instead?

Stick to your plan.
Don’t try to outsmart the headlines.
And for the love of compounding interest—don’t turn your portfolio into a panic button.

🎙️ In the latest Real Talk audio, I break down exactly why staying invested matters, how volatility can actually be your friend (yep), and why your financial future deserves more than emotional decision-making.

Bottom line:
The market will swing. That’s its job.
Your job? Stay grounded. Stay invested. Stay smart.

Let’s un-eff your finances—one mindset shift at a time.

#UnEffYourFinances #VolatilityIsNormal #StayInvested #GameChangersAndWealthBuilders #RealTalkMoney #BehavioralFinance #LongTermWins

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How Do I Balance Saving for my Kids and Retirement

By Un Eff Your Finances | June 16, 2025

**How to Save for Your Kids and Your Retirement (Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money)**

Let’s play a game:
You’ve got one dollar.

🍼 Your kid wants to go to college (and preferably not be buried under student loan debt).
🧓 You’d like to retire someday without eating cat food.

So… who gets the dollar?

Welcome to one of the most common—and emotional—financial dilemmas: Do I save for my kid’s future or secure my own retirement?

Here’s the answer:
👉 You can do both. You just need a strategy that doesn’t come from the back of a cereal box.

1. Secure Your Oxygen Mask First

You know the airplane analogy—and it’s true. If you’re not okay financially, your kid’s future isn’t either. Prioritize building your retirement foundation first. Your kids can get scholarships, part-time jobs, or choose a more affordable school. But there’s no financial aid for retirement (unless your kid becomes a billionaire and returns the favor).

2. Automate Both Goals (Even If It’s Uneven)

Don’t overthink perfection. Set up automatic contributions to your retirement and a 529 or custodial account for your child. Even small, consistent contributions compound over time—and you won’t have to decide which goal wins every month. You’re funding the future on autopilot.

3. Don’t Guilt-Trip Yourself

This isn’t a competition of love. Choosing to prioritize your long-term stability doesn’t mean you don’t care about your kids. It means you want to avoid becoming a financial burden on them later. (And let’s be honest—they’re already going to blame you for something, might as well not add “financial stress” to the list.)

🎙️ Give the full audio a listen—I unpack this balancing act with a dose of real talk, some strategy, and a little humor (because let’s face it, finances can be stressful enough without sounding like a spreadsheet).

Remember:
💡 You’re not choosing between your future and theirs.
You’re building a plan where everyone wins.

Let’s un-eff your finances—one smart move at a time.

#ParentMoneyMoves #UnEffYourFinances #GameChangersAndWealthBuilders #RetirementPlanning #CollegeSavings #RealTalkMoney

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3 Creative Ways to Teach Children About Money

By Un Eff Your Finances | June 9, 2025

3 Creative Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money (Without Putting Them to Sleep)

Let’s be honest: most kids think money just comes out of the wall. Or worse—“Can’t you just use the card?”

If you’ve ever watched your child blow through their birthday cash like it’s Monopoly money, this post (and video 👇) is for you.

We want to raise Game Changers and Wealth Builders—not future adults who learn the hard way that “0% interest for 12 months” is not free money.

1. Gamify the Basics

Kids love games. So make saving and budgeting one.

Set up a “family bank” where they earn interest on savings.
Match their savings like a 401(k) for chores.
Let them “invest” in snack stocks—buy Goldfish at 10 cents today, sell at 15 cents next week.

Suddenly, compound interest is cooler than Roblox coins.

2. Use Real-Life Scenarios (a.k.a. Don’t Be Boring)

Skip the PowerPoint presentation. Teach money in the wild:

Grocery shopping? Show them unit pricing.
Eating out? Let them help calculate the tip.
Road trip? Hand them a gas budget and let them play CFO.

They’ll absorb way more from hands-on money moments than any lecture.

3. Give Them Control—And Let Them Mess Up

Yep, you read that right. Let. Them. Blow. It.

Nothing drives home the value of money like watching $20 vanish in a flash on the worst claw machine in America. It’s a lesson in budgeting, buyer’s remorse, and decision-making all in one go.

You’re not raising perfection. You’re raising confidence. And confidence comes from experience—even the oops kind.

🎥 Watch the full video for more tips and a few laughs along the way. I’ll show you how to plant the seeds for financial literacy that actually stick.

Because let’s face it—your kid knows 84 YouTubers by name. It’s time they learn who Warren Buffett is, too.

Ready to raise a money-smart kid (and maybe brush up on your own skills too)?
Let’s un-eff the next generation’s finances, one piggy bank at a time. 💪🐷💸

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Real Talk – Kids, Money, and the News

By Un Eff Your Finances | June 2, 2025

💸 Your kid can explain Minecraft strategy in painstaking detail…
But ask them what a Roth IRA is, and it’s 🦗🦗🦗.

📚 It’s time we taught our kids more than just how to swipe a debit card.
In this episode of Un Eff Your Finances, I break down how to get your kids started with real-world money smarts—without boring them to tears (or making it feel like detention).

🙌 Let’s raise the first generation that actually understands compound interest before they sign for student loans.

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Navigating Financial Challenges: Expert Tips for Busy Professionals (Ep. 12)

By Un Eff Your Finances | March 27, 2025

What’s the secret sauce for building wealth while juggling life’s chaos?

Nick St. George from St. George Wealth Management kicks off the latest episode of Un Eff Your Finances with an engaging discussion on the importance of a structured financial plan for busy executives and business owners. With a mix of humor and expertise, he breaks down why starting early is key, the risks of an unstructured approach, and how failing to plan is essentially planning to fail. This episode dives into the mindset of strategic achievers—those who are too busy to manage every financial detail but want their money to work just as hard as they do.

Nicholas discusses:

(00:02:22) Strategic financial planning for busy professionals
(00:04:20) The importance of starting retirement savings early
(00:06:13) Real-life investment missteps and successes
(00:12:27) Creating a flexible financial game plan
(00:20:03) The role of a financial advisor in managing emotions and legacy planning

Connect with Nicholas St. George:

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How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor: Essential Questions (Ep. 11)

By Un Eff Your Finances | March 13, 2025

What questions should you ask before entrusting your finances to an advisor?

Dive into this episode where Nicholas St. George uncovers the essentials to choosing the perfect financial partner. Whether you’re a hotshot business owner or just getting started in the financial game, these insights will keep you on the straight and narrow.

Nick breaks it down with humor and honesty, so you don’t end up with regrets.

This installment of Un Eff Your Finances highlights:

(04:36) What is a fiduciary?
(06:05) How advisors get paid and why it matters
(11:09) Why knowing your advisor’s qualifications upfront saves headaches
(12:06) The real deal on financial planning licenses
(15:14) A philosophy that stands the test of financial time

Connect with Nicholas St. George:

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